People frequently call us with the complaint that the fish in their backyard ponds are being plundered by wildlife. Fish are the natural diet of many wild animals, mammals and birds alike, and fish in your pond equal an easy dinner for many of those animals. Read on to learn a bit more about how to protect your pond from wildlife.
Tips For Backyard Ponds
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Choose the Right Fish
Although very pretty, goldfish and koi are often conditioned to come to the surface when there is movement, expecting food. They are also very visible, which makes them an easy target for wildlife (raccoons, mink, great blue herons, kingfishers, and others) looking for an easy meal. If you choose small native fish for your pond, they will blend in with the surroundings and be less visible. These fish are also more wary of movement and will move out of reach more quickly when danger approaches. (We also recommend that you don't spend a lot of money on fish you are keeping outside -- wildlife, weather, fertilizer run-off, and the neighbor's cat can all decimate your investment in a single afternoon!)
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Give Your Fish a Place to Hide
Keeping rocks and plants in your pond gives your fish a place to hide from reaching paws and beaks.
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Dig the Center Deeper
For ponds that are "free-form" with a pliable liner, it is a good idea to dig the center of your pond deeper than the edges. This gives your fish a deeper place, out of reach from wildlife fishing from the edges, to hide when danger approaches.
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Netting and Other Covers
Netting can be placed over the top of your pond to keep wildlife from fishing in it; however, clear netting is often invisible to fishing birds and can cause them to get tangled in the net. If you choose to net your pond, please use a visible netting (heavy and/or dark colored).
Covering your pond at night with a tarp or hard cover is also another option to prevent nocturnal animals such as raccoons and mink from fishing in it.
