Heron Attack

[koifishgirl]

Well first of many lessons, I am putting a liner in one of my mud ponds. I did not have time to get all the small 3 ot 4 inch koi out of the pond so I drained the pond down and left for the night and got up early this morning and there he was. I could not believe that a herion could eat that many koi, he wiped me out. I have only 180 small fish left and these were the ones that I had caught the night before and put into a small holding tank waiting to go to the lined pond. This heron is dead meat, I hope antifreeze works, going to inject a fish with some and let him get his fill. Still dumbfounded and in destress, shit he even got a couple of 6 to 8 inch koi that were in the pond with some 6 inch goldfish, maybe around 4 of them, what I want to know is where in the hell did he put these fish, he could not have eaten all these fish overnight or early morning could he.

[Valarc]

Many species of heron are endangered - you could face a serious fine if you do anything to poison it, depending on where you live.

[luke frisbee]

KFG, let me get this right...
First you didn't think a heron would get the koi...and now you think only the one you saw ate all of them?

And there is a law that you need to become knowledgeable of. i do not know the title but it deals with the fact that Aquaculturists are not as confined as the general population when it come to dealing with many of the Predacious(sp) Birds...it has letters like SPICES

[keokoi]

Sorry to her about your loss. Then again is it really the Herons fault that you invited them to dinner? ( not trying to be mean here) but some serious lessons to be learned as your first year as a fish farmer.

Please reconsider your injection in a koi to get back to a bird that is only doing what its intended to do.

Joe

[koifishgirl]

Im not going to kill the bird, It was my fault. It just makes me sick, I have learned never to drain a pond down so as it looks as I have served dinner for the bird. I only left a good foot of water in the pond and so many little koi, he just done what comes natural. I just dont know how he could eat that many koi.

[MikeM]

A Heron can eat its own weight in fish without a problem. Little ones are snack fare.

[dinh]

Not so sure about GA, but in CA, Heron is protected bird.
Please note that in many states, only White Heron is protected......, so check your state for the law for further legal action....

OK, are there any K-B memebers that belong to "Animal Rights"? My question is that, both Heron and Koi are animal. Should you stand by the Heron or Koi?

Regards,
--Dinh

[koifishgirl]

I dont like killing the birds as we have a few of them. My ponds are built so they can not get the koi, this was my fault, I should not have drained the pond and left it overnite. Its like I invited the birds in for breakfast. He ate more than his weight I would think. Bugger is very full and I hope he gets sick. Even if I could kill the bird, I dont think I could ever get that mad at him because he was hungery, really not the birds fault, all mine. Im the dumb ass.

[luke frisbee]

the federal act only covers the SouthEastern USA (if I remember right)..
And KFG, this is the first time...you wait, you will see so many birds carrying off so many of your koi, and your mind will start seeing these birds carrying off a koi you had high hopes for......in time, due time.
Netting the ponds quite heavily will prevent most of it.

[dinh]

Well, I did not invite Blue Heron and I did not drain my pond either. But it came and took away my best koi couple years back. Imagine it took away your best koi in front of your eyes..........

I love animal ;-(( You know what I meant....

--Dinh

couple years ago.

Quote: Originally Posted by koifishgirl I dont like killing the birds as we have a few of them. My ponds are built so they can not get the koi, this was my fault, I should not have drained the pond and left it overnite. Its like I invited the birds in for breakfast. He ate more than his weight I would think. Bugger is very full and I hope he gets sick. Even if I could kill the bird, I dont think I could ever get that mad at him because he was hungery, really not the birds fault, all mine. Im the dumb ass.