Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Fly Fishing & Other Fish Species A poacher by my pond

Wiley creatures - discouraged 9 since March

I used to detest the herons. Yes I've had some large valuable fish skewered too. But I won't apply for the $100.00 Fish and Wildlife permits or shoot them anymore. Why? There are nonlethal ways to discourage them and I would hope I'm smarter then they are. Killing them is only a short term solution until the next one shows up. It's like thinking you're going to eliminate flies by swatting them. It's just a never ending destructive process. And the process of eradicating them is wasted time i could be using for more productive endeavors. I also detest killing any amimal unless it's absolutely necessary. I guess I'm getting sentimental in my old age.

Additionally if you resort to just shooting them, most likely you will have one visit and do destruction when you're not around. I can assure you they can show up on a moonlit night while you're fast asleep. Been there done that.

My stakes and lines work for me 24/7. No dead birds, wasted time, and best of all no dead fish. I may even try and electric fence sometime.

If i was a recreational pond owner I wouldn't be concerned at all. I'd just enjoy their presence. Most of the time your larger healthy fish will be in too deep of water for them. Other than spawning time if a large bass or bluegill is hanging around in shallow water there is something wrong with them. Many times sick fish get speared by a heron and he gets the blame when the fish was on the way out anyway.

It's your smaller more abundant fish they are after. I once had a pond owner complain about the damn herons eating his fish, but in the same breath he complained about his stunted 3 to 5 inch bluegills. Go figure.

They eat snakes, mice, moles, and rats too. I started to have a problem with five star moles that hang around my waterline and do more damage than muskrats. And terrestrial crayfish that were digging up my yard. Guess what? After laying off the herons it seems their numbers are down.

Appreciate as always your take on the issue, Cecil. You make some points that hit home in my scenario - I think the GBH are only taking my GSH and since my pondweed explosion I'm seeing far fewer signs of their presence than the last two years. Guess they have left for easier pickings as my vegetation probably presents some major issues in their hunting efforts. I haven't seen fresh tracks or their scat around the pond for several weeks.

That's right, we didn't have time for any lessons, did we? I'll have plenty of time between Oct. 30th and Jan. 31st....

In case it was not clear, I was referring to muskrats.

Herons are, like most birds, Federally protected. So, if any accidents happen, don't post the results of the accident here or anywhere else.

I would feel bad if I knew someone that had an accident with a heron. And my customers would remain blissfully ignorant. But please do not take me for kill em all let God sort them out Frog. I go out of my way to take care of species I see at my ponds, even those I don't want. For emample Garter snakes. They are super frog killers. But not that difficult to catch. I have a critter container, normally carry it in my truck just in case. I catch them, get all stinky, and relocate them to a nature reserve creek area by my home.

Several times this season while mowing cattails I have come across active bird nests. Mainly coots and blackbirds. I actually leave them completely alone. Last week I was cutting back cattails and my son said there is a nest with a baby bird in it. We cut around it and left the stand and nest there. And I am under contract to cut this stuff down. I just explain to the customer and normally they are appreciative as long as I come back when the nest is empty and do my job.

The geese are another issue. Dam poop machines. Really bad. Even if I bottle rocket or popper them away I usually see them back later in the day or next week. If I could capture and relocate to a safe haven any animal or bird I would. Well, maybe not muskrats.

Do Heron Decoys Work?

Concept, Herons are territorial and will bypass a pond where they see another heron. Reality, they get it figured out pretty quick, hey this is not a real bird. I have seen them feeding right next to them. As far as decoys one of the most realistic and working I have seen are the coyotes, not Wile E. Not much lands around them, ever.