Protecting our pond fish

Our goldfish & koi have been attacked probably by a raccoon. We put out an animal trap but have only caught squirrels. Any ideas to protect the pond, we are so unhappy that we haven't been able to protect our fish. Tried covering with plastic mesh. It's ugly. Any ideas?

  7 answers
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jan 06, 2018

    What about low level ornamental fence. You don't have Heron or Crane in your area do you?

    • Bonnie Cockerell Bonnie Cockerell on Jan 07, 2018

      Thanks for the suggestion. Our home has a 6 ft. fence around it and they just climb up a tree and have no problem getting over it.

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    • Sorry you are still having a raccoon problem. They are stealing the figs off my trees. Yes, I am very familiar with feeder fish, but living in a suburb of Los Angeles, nothing is that cheap!

  • Barleysue Barleysue on Jan 06, 2018

    We had so much trouble with herons eating our pond fish that we strung a black plastic mesh cover over the pond. It worked but wasn't pretty.

    • Bonnie Cockerell Bonnie Cockerell on Jan 07, 2018

      Hi - Agree, we also tried the plastic mesh. Wrecks the looks of he pond. So appreciate you getting back with the idea. Another sent a website for a solar light product called Niteguard. It produces a pulsating light and sounds interesting. Think we'll give that a try.

      Again, thank you so much and sending my best.

  • Leah Morris Leah Morris on Jan 06, 2018

    Place chicken wire over the top. Take tent stakes to hold down around edges.

    • Bonnie Cockerell Bonnie Cockerell on Jan 07, 2018

      Hello - We currently have plastic mesh over the pond but it kind of takes away from the looks. Another sent a website for a product called Niteguard. It produces a pulsating light and sounds interesting. Think we'll give that a try. Appreciate your input. My best -

  • Terri Terri on Jan 06, 2018

    Friends had raccoon family move into their boat. They played a radio on talk station and it scared them away. Music station didn’t work. They haven’t come back, and its been months! Apparently they don’t care for people’s voices.

    • Bonnie Cockerell Bonnie Cockerell on Jan 07, 2018

      Hey, one never knows. I'll try anything. Thank you for getting back with your suggestion. My best -

  • Sloante5 Sloante5 on Feb 03, 2018

    We had the same problem - and finally went with netting. Not sure what you bought, but we bought the black kind that farmers use to block birds from eating berries off bushes. We lifted the large stones around the pond, and placed the netting so it is only an inch or so over the water. Our liner is black, so we can barely see the netting - and most guests DONT notice it. It has the added advantage of also keeping leaves and twigs out of the water, but still allows us to easily feed them and test the water. We lost 4 sets of fish before doing this, and understand your pain - but I’ll take the hard to see netting over finding fish remnants each morning!

  • Good luck ♥ We've had raccoon visitors during the night in my back yard several times over the years. They would catch the koi in my pond. Now it would be different if they would eat them, but they would just play with them and leave them all over the yard. I've tried animal control in our area, they said they wouldn't help us, but to get a Havahart trap, then release them at least 100 miles away because they travel that and more. An exterminator was way too expensive. Had a trap, tried, could never catch them...tried sardines, marshmallows, tuna, canned cat food and more. I devoured the web for info on how to get them to go. Tried criss crossing fishing line throughout the back yard, raccoons didn't mind it, the dogs hated it. Lit the backyard up like a runway – didn't phase them, Human hair, human urine, could have cared less about either, Tried "The Scarecrow" motion detector that hooks to the hose and sprays when it senses motion. Raccoons loved it,Dogs were scared of it and refused to go out during the day even when it was off. Tried coyote urine, didn't phase the coons one bit. Tried little red flashing lights around the perimeter of the yard, raccoons didn't notice them. Summer came and they stopped coming. We had no birdseed out for the wild birds, no dog food out, nothing. They came back the following winter and brought friends. Tried everything again to no avail. Got up one morning and they were still here! They were usually gone by then. One of my dogs slipped....pushed by me as I was trying to shoo them away. She was a Great Dane....they took her down. Now I love all animals, but don't come to my place and mess with mine. My sons stayed up the following night, shot 2 of them. They haven't been back since. It was horrid, the screams my poor dog let out as they were biting her. Please be careful. I wouldn't attempt to even catch it, You have to pick up that wire cage after all!. They are fierce and will bite. Be careful please.


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    • Just so frustrating. Wishing you all the luck. Just be careful