The pond has only been in for about 6 weeks, but I think a crafty heron has found us, and maybe decided to put my garden on his list of handy restaurants. He flew by the other evening, but I didn't recognise it, just knew I'd not seen one before. He came again last night whilst we were sat out, and now I am worried :(

This morning I found a fair bit of damage in the garden (its very secure from human intruders, so ruled that out) A fence panel was broken, a heavy plant tipped up, and a bird box knocked off the post. I'm wondering if the heron landed and my dogs chased it off - I do hope so.

I think it is a truly majestic looking creature, but if a single fish dies, then it will be a truly dead looking creature - now, how to make a spud gun?!

Seriously, does anyone else have this problem? Do the plastic herons work?

I'm sorry to hear about the herons visit. I've had that problem. My pond is netted all the time now. My page with heron stuff is at http://www.fishpondinfo.com/birds.htm

Herons may knock over things but they usually are pretty slow while hunting and don't knock too much over. Raccoons are much more apt to be the ones to knock down bird feeders and boxes and break things and spill plants. But, it could have been the heron or rather the dog if the dog chased him.

I have a fake heron. It sure didn't keep the herons away. They are territorial part of the year but looking for a mate sometimes too which attracts them to a fake heron. My bird page lists some other deterrents. Some people swear by the heron scarer. We can't use one because we're on a well, and if the water kept running, it would go dry. Plus, we have dozens of deer and other animals that would set it off all the time.

Thanks for the reply Robyn (by the way, your garden sounds idylic!) I bought a plastic heron yesterday, and another lily for them to hide under. I came in to watch the World Cup, went out an hour later, and the crystal clear pond was quite murky, I thought perhaps they had been digging in the new plant (even though I put stones on the top)

Anyways, I went out in another hour, and found one of my dogs staring down at a grass carp :( at least I think it was a grass carp:



The fish was just lay there dead on the cobbles. I washed it off and there is no sign of injury, other than part of its tail fin missing. Thing is, the pond was even murkier, but there was no damage, or even movement to the plants which line the sides. I know the dog hasn't been in, cos she hates water with a vengeance. Its a total mystery as to what happened.

Later, the fish were coming up happily for food, none of them looked spooked. Its so frustrating not knowing.

I'm in the UK so we don't get racoons, the only wildlife I see in the garden are small birds like blue tits, sparrows and robins.

The water is clearing this morning, and no more fatalities. If anyone can hazard a guess as to what happened, I would love to hear!

Maybe the heron was back, and you just missed seeing him. You may want to net the pond, at least for a while just in case. If none of the plant pots were disturbed, then the murkiness would probably be from stirring up debris on the bottom which a heron, dog, or even fish themselves could do. Sometimes plant pots will burp up dirt through the top gravel so it may have still had something to do with the new lily's dirt. I hope no more fish are lost!

Thanks Robyn, unfortunately another visitor arrived last night to the smaller pond, and Paul is AWOL, Mick must have taken a fright, and got caught in the pump casing :( I've bought some wire now to set up trips round the big pond. What a life!