Need advice on keeping loons, cormorants, gulls and herons out of a fish pond

[GillieSuit]

Howdy folks,

A good friend of mine has a small spring fed dugout with trout in it. The pond is very clear and due to the late spring melt this year is one of the few places with open water. As a result he has 4 loons camped out on his pond at the moment. They are eating his fish by the hundreds and he wondered what might work to get them off the pond and keep them out. At the moment they are just growing fish for fun, but might do some recreational fishing at some point. So covering the pond with netting of some kind may not be the best option.


Just wondering about options for managing avian predators on outdoor ponds.


Thanks,

Gillie.

[crf250xtom]

Shotgun?

[YeeHaw]

Scare cannon, flags on wire spread across the water. Or as mentioned.......

[dodgeboy1979]

most birds do not like movement so some scarecrow type things floating in the dugout may be handy, as well maybe invest in a wildlife cannon.

[pinelakeperch]

Can you not dye the water to decrease the ability of the birds to locate prey?

[Moefoe]

Loons are probably passing through...if you see a Cormorant shoot first deal with the legal ramifications after! In truth you have to take care of it now...let them get set up and cozy your buddy will be dealing with them for years!

[Pudelpointer]

Originally Posted by Moefoe

Loons are probably passing through...if you see a Cormorant shoot first deal with the legal ramifications after! In truth you have to take care of it now...let them get set up and cozy your buddy will be dealing with them for years!

Wow, excellent advice right there....

[bloopbloob]

I've heard that a rope around a pond will keep Herons out, they can't land on water, and can't step over a rope. Not sure if it's 100% true or not, but makes sense to me...