Raccoons, herons, mink, and other predators can threaten pond fish. To help protect koi and goldfish, provide underwater hiding places, install protective pond netting, and use predator deterrents.
How to protect your pond fish
- Install fish caves: Provide underwater shelters where fish can hide from raccoons, herons, and other predators.
- Use pond netting: Secure protective netting over the pond to help prevent predators from reaching fish.
- Provide deeper water: Include deeper areas where fish can retreat from predators hunting along shallow edges.
- Add predator deterrents: Use motion-activated sprinklers or predator decoys to discourage wildlife. Move decoys periodically to improve their effectiveness.
- Reduce shallow access: Limit areas where raccoons and herons can easily enter the pond or reach fish.
Important: No single method completely prevents predators. Combining fish caves, protective netting, and deterrents provides better protection than relying on one method alone.