There is no need to feel helpless when protecting your garden pond. With the innovation of electric fences, many farm and property owners feel safer.
If you are tired of having rabbits, herons, frogs, dogs, raccoons, and other intruders making a feast out of your pond, it’s time to consider electric fencing.
But, if this is your first time installing a fence, there are a few considerations you need to think about.
First, as fish is the typical food choice for most predators, constructing the best safety system is necessary!
Please take a close look to find out what it takes to build the best electric fence for garden ponds!
Look Out! These Are the Most Common Garden Pond Predators
1. Raccoons
These nocturnal animals are brilliant! But, as expected, raccoons present a nightmare to many farm owners! The problem lies in the stubborn nature that gets them anything they want!
If a raccoon sees an opportunity to get within your garden perimeter, it will gladly take it.
Besides, they can climb and leap pretty high, so you must build a fence that can stop these creatures.
2. Mink
Besides herons, weasels should be the biggest of your concern! These predators are interested in aquatic life, and they are not afraid to get what they want.
Installing scare lights will not do the trick, nor will electric netting.
You will need something much more durable and practical to prevent this intruder from killing your fish.
When the weather gets warmer, fish in large ponds can manage to escape a mink attack. However, the winter months are the ones you should worry about.
Some fish, like koi, can significantly slow down when it gets cold, and from that point, they become easy prey.
Spraying drops of eucalyptus, citronella, and tea tree oil around the pond area can increase the protection. These oils are known for repelling mink!
3. Heron
A heron is the best-known koi and fish predator. They have been genetically trained to feed on aquatic life.
At times, they will also feed on insects, frogs, snakes, and rabbits.
Understand that a heron is large and will require a bigger electric fence.
The largest heron found is 4 feet bit and has a wingspan of 7 feet! Herons are smart birds, so it can be a nightmare to get rid of them.
However, you should know the Government protects these birds in some areas, so you should not hurt them!
One of the most effective pond protection systems is a net.
Not only should a heron bird have trouble getting to the fish, but it will also repel them from spotting the pond in the first place!
A net should be installed 60 cm above the water, while the hole size should be around 2.5 cm. In this way, a heron bird will not be able to push the beak through the hole.
4. Felines & Others
Homeowners with pets should also consider protecting their pond from cats and dogs. Cats can quickly get their paws on the koi fish if the pond water is too shallow.
What Is the Best Electric Fence for Ponds?
You will need to install an electric fence for those stubborn and dangerous aquatic intruders.
Installing garden kits such as GARDEN GUARDIAN and Pet & Garden Kit by Gallegher proved to be the most user-friendly, unobtrusive, and effective kit posts for the pond.
These kits are very safe to use around the fish pond.
They are effective for pond protection from dangerous predators, but they will also stop domestic animals like cats from sneaking around the pond.
One of the first things you will need to consider is the pond fence line. Don’t leave any spots open for the predators to enter!
Next, you will need a few electric fencing supplies!
Electric Fencing Supplies
When you have planned out the fence’s perimeter for the pond, it’s time to consider other supplies.
Such include an energizer and an electric source.
If you have an AC source near your pond, you can consider getting this fence kit by Zareba.
It’s a garden electric fence kit that repels any small intruders such as raccoons, birds such as herons, and other animal pests.
Make sure you set the posts close to the edge of the pond. Next, install a few strands of wire, making sure you stretch it to meet the nose level heigh of the predator.
But, if you don’t have a nearby socket that can reach the length of the fence post, then you can choose a solar or DC energizer.
They are just as powerful as electric ones, but the only problem with the solar charger relies on solar energy.
Standard electric fencing is effective primarily for land predators such as raccoons, cats, minks, and others.
However, if you want to prevent herons from landing in the pond and devouring the koi, you must consider a net.
An electric net stretched over the pond area will effectively keep this animal away and protect the fish simultaneously.
How to Protect the Pond From Predators?
Additionally, pond fence kits are quite easy to use. They are popularly used nowadays for pond protection.
The majority of them are effective and unobtrusive and will include a fence wire, stretcher, and a transformer that gives off low voltage.
Although the voltage is low, it still offers a mild shock that makes herons and other intruders avoid the pond area.
One-touch and they will quickly learn the valuable lesson!
When installing any electric fencing, you will need to clear out the heavy vegetation.
This means you should not install fence posts around the plants as they can reduce the electric charge carried through the fence.
Choose carefully where you plan to locate your pond fences and posts!
Other factors such as dry or wet ground may also have an effect on the strength of the shock.
FAQs
Can I put an electric fence around my pond?
Yes, you can put an electric fence around the garden pond.
Owners often opt for electric fencing to protect the koi fish and other pond occupants.
It’s currently the most effective method in stopping dangerous predators such as herons from killing the fish.
With electric fencing for ponds, you can either choose the standard fence wire with posts or install electrical netting over the pond.
The latter is the most effective for keeping a heron away from the pond.
It will prevent them from taking a drink from the pond, let alone feeding on your fish.
Do you need a fence around a garden pond?
If the pond has over 18 inches in depth, you must have a fence around it. Fence heights and lengths depend on the size of the pond.
However, they usually measure out 4-5 feet on all sides.
A fence will also require a gate opening for easy access for the owner and others. It should be around 5 feet tall with a reliable closing mechanism.
It’s best to check your area’s regulations on pond fences before you install one.
Generally, it’s for the best if you opt for rust-free and UV-protected fence material that is weather-friendly.
Conclusion
It can be traumatizing investing all your efforts in a garden pond and the well-being of the fish, only to see them devoured after a heron attack.
Months of hard labor can be gone in 20 minutes if you don’t protect your pond the right way.
For gardens and pond protection, we recommend you opt for an electric fence for garden ponds.
It’s easily installed yet effectively keeps herons, cats, raccoons, and other known predators away from the pond!
