Protecting Koi from Herons and Egrets

A pond owner seeks ways to stop an egret from eating their koi.

Effective Deterrents

• Dogs or cats patrolling the yard consistently are the best deterrent.
• Visual scare tactics: scarecrows, reflective tape, or floating metallic objects.
• Pond netting (though the bird got under it in this case).
• Deep water and hiding places (caves, dense plants) give fish escape routes.

Large wading birds are persistent. No single method works 100%; combine strategies. Motion-activated sprinklers can also help.