Raccoons are a nightmare at the pond!
I know they might look cute. Maybe your college roommate had one as a pet (I don’t think you are supposed to do that..), but they can be vicious and wreak major havoc in a pond.
Something got some of my fish? How do I know what it was?
If it was a bird, fish will just be missing (most of the time). Sometimes a large bird will spear a fish that is too large for them and they leave it like enemy on a battle field because they can’t eat it.
If it was a raccoon, they may eat the fish but will leave the head and guts lying around everywhere. In fact, so many people have reported that a raccoon will kill many fish, just for sport, not even for eating, and leave them strewn all over the yard and around the pond in a bloody mess.
6 Steps to keep raccoons away from the pond
There is no fool proof way to keep raccoons away from the pond. There, I said it. However, I do my best to slow them down and cause them grief so they will choose somewhere else to go! Here is what we have done:
1. Motion sensing BRIGHT lights placed right at raccoon eye level. My thinking is that they see very well in the dark and a sudden blinding light right where they are trying to find food will be very annoying. I will make sure they are in the Amazon listing below, but just in case, these are some that work great. Click HERE. I like them because you can put them right on the ground at pond level, perfect for poking those raccoons right in the eye!
2. Pond mats. Yes, I know that raccoons are smart and can probably get around these, however, I have 2 points here -#1 – they can’t eat what they can’t see. #2 – If they step out onto it they will sort of flump right into the pond, which they will HATE! I can hear you saying, but Kristi, raccoons don’t mind the water…. true. However, they like to go in slowly, on the edge, and really hate to suddenly be submerged. I feel like they would quickly try to get out so they don’t drown.
6 Steps continued...
3. A dog deters raccoons. Now, I wouldn’t want our dog to fight with a raccoon, these things are dangerous, but, a dog usually in the yard will deter them.
4. Keep potential food, like cat food, or even fish food in the house or garage so that it doesn’t entice the raccoons to enjoy your yard.
5. If you ever hear anything out at night, go out with a bright flashlight (at least from the patio door/deck/window so that IF there is a raccoon you can scare him away. Remember never to approach a raccoon, they can be dangerous.
Oh and check THIS out!
6. Predator eye devices. Yes! So we used these for years (photo below). They are solar and they light up 2 little red “eyes”. I think it is supposed to simulate some other predator so that the raccoon (or deer or skunk) are deterred. We placed them on the fence, (because we know the raccoon use this as their highway into our yard) right at eye level and we placed them around the pond right at eye level.
So was it the bright motion-sensing lights, the pond mats, the dog (who was not out all night, so that probably wasn’t it), or the Predator eye device that kept raccoons away from the pond? I don’t know but we continue to utilize all of these things to keep our koi from a raccoon attack!
Raccoons not your problem? How about Heron? Read: How to Keep Heron Out Of The Pond.