Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Wildlife Management Osprey's catching my fish

I have seen some Osprey's catching fish from the pond and noticed some scales on a brush pile I have by the pond. I set up a game camera to see what kind of fish they were eating.


I think Osprey's are really cool. However if this one is eating one of the Grass Carp I just stocked 2 days ago, I may have to rethink my stance. At $15 each I'm providing it a very expensive meal.

The video is not that great because of the quality of the camera. CLICK watch on YouTube if you want to see it.

Heck, I can get fish AND chips at a restaurant for less than $15.

I agree that ospreys are cool to watch, but am sorry to hear you are losing your newly stocked fish.

All of the experts on Pond Boss talk about the importance of acclimatizing fish to the pond as a key step in the stocking process.

I don't know the correct answer, but perhaps build a soft mesh fish cage with a lid and leave the carp in there for a few days? After they get out they may be acclimated enough to your water to go hide in your aquatic plants?

I believe DD1 strung some lines above his ponds to protect against cormorant predation. I think he has a thread where he thought it was pretty effective.

Maybe you can set a few posts as line anchors. When you are going to stock, install your pond lines with lots of ribbons so the ospreys, cormorants, etc. will be deterred. I am sure they will be quite ugly, but you can take them back down after a few days when your new fish have mostly found good hiding places.

Of course, your drone videos readily convey how easy it is for an osprey to observe a fish in the open from the exact same point of view!

Thanks for the suggestions, I will be trying that next year.
I examined the scales and pieces left and I don't see any scales that look like GC. They are from a LMB. I'm certainly willing to sacrifice a LMB VS a GC.

If anyone has ideas of how to deter them I'm certainly open to ideas.

I think you could harass the ospreys pretty effectively with your drone skills.

However, you certainly need to determine if that is LEGAL!

Unfortunately, according to Google, it looks like that would not be legal.

It can be illegal to scare off osprey in Oklahoma, as it is illegal to intentionally harass or chase certain protected wildlife, including eagles, hawks, and other raptors. Intentionally molesting, injuring, or killing protected birds like osprey or their nests is prohibited. While specific "scaring" laws may not be explicit, harassing and chasing are illegal activities that can result in penalties

I welcome osprey and bald eagles to catch and eat all they want but draw the line on cormorants . Last year probably 200 cormorants landed at on time! They left as fast as they got there