A heron keeps eating my fish.

Question
Hi, im am dazzled by the fact that i come down every morning to find the fish at the bottom of the pond hiding, and many missing, i have spotted a heron a few times and am eagar to kill it, catch it, and stop it eating the fish. Killing it may be to cruel, so do you know of anyway to stop it from coming to my pond EVER again. I have tried putting pots arond the pond to stop it landing, but it insists in getting breakfast.  Hope you can help me, thanks  -   Mark

Answer
The heron is just doing what is natural. It is illegal in the US to harm or kill a heron.  There really aren't that many of them.  Instead of harming the heron, I suggest deterring it.  I have a list of things to try at http://www.fishpondinfo.com/birds/heron.htm including water squirters, electric fencing, and nets.  I keep a net over my deep end in the warm months.  In the fall, the entire pond is covered to keep the leaves off.  I'd rather the net not be there but I have to keep it on, or the heron hops in and scares the fish if not eats some.  I've thought of building an arbor over the pond that's high enough for people to walk under that would let rain in but keep out leaves and herons.  I don't have a man to build it for me but maybe you can build something for your situation.  Think of the heron as a challenge and not an enemy.  Good luck!

Robyn