Herons are a predation problem rather than a fouling problem. A single bird working a stocked pond can take a great deal of fish in a short time, and because herons are patient, wary and arrive at dawn, owners often see the losses long before they see the bird. The control approach is correspondingly different from the rest of this section: the objective is to deny access to the water rather than to make a ledge uncomfortable.
Below are the Flock Free products we would use around water. If you would rather understand the problem first, the full guide continues underneath.
Shop Blue Heron Control Products
Bird Netting 3/4″ Mesh – 50' x 50'
$755.00
Covers ponds and water features to deny access from above.
Bird Netting 3/4″ Mesh – 25' x 25'
$188.00
The smaller sheet size for garden ponds and contained water.
Moby – Portable Hazer
$3,249.00
Portable hazer for treating the wider area around water.
Bird Repellent Concentrate – 1 gallon
$395.00
The concentrate our hazers and misting systems run on.
Flock Free Bird Bombs (5 pcs)
$41.99
Scent-repellent pods for small enclosed spaces. Repellent sold separately.
Flock Free Bird Bomb Bundle
$31.99
One Bird Bomb plus a 4 fl oz concentrate to soak it in.
Prices shown as listed at the time of publication. See each product page for current pricing and availability. Shipping restrictions apply to certain Flock Free Bird Repellent products in CT, IN, MD, MT, NM, RI, WI and DC — see the individual product page for current availability and shipping information. Other products on this page are not affected.
Pond and fishery work varies enormously by site. Call 732-987-5400 before ordering — or keep reading below.
Continue Reading: How to Deter Herons
Why Herons Become a Problem
- Stock losses. Ornamental koi, garden pond fish and farmed stock are all taken, and high-value fish make a single visit expensive.
- Repeat visits. A heron that has fed successfully will return, usually at the same times of day.
- Damage to planting and pond edges. Wading birds disturb marginal planting and stir up sediment.
- They are hard to catch in the act. Early-morning feeding means the loss is often discovered rather than witnessed.
Where Herons Hunt
- Ornamental and koi ponds, particularly those with shallow margins to wade in.
- Fisheries and stocked lakes.
- Aquaculture ponds and raceways.
- Shallow edges of larger water bodies where fish are easy to reach.
Why herons come back
Because the water still holds fish and the approach is still easy. Herons wade in from shallow edges, so a pond that is easy to walk into is easy to fish. Anything that makes the approach and the surface harder to use reduces the return visits.
How to Deter Herons
Netting over the water is the primary method
Covering the water is the most reliable approach we offer for this species. Bird netting stretched over a pond denies access from above, and the smaller 25' x 25' sheet suits garden ponds and contained water features.
Two practical points. The net has to be tensioned and supported clear of the water surface — a net lying on the water can still be fished through, and is a hazard to the fish. And the edges matter: herons wade in from the margin, so a cover that stops short of the bank leaves the easiest route open.
Repellent applied around the water
Where netting the whole surface is not practical, our repellent program can be applied to the surrounding area through a portable Moby hazer or a Mini Solar Hazer, running on the 1 gallon concentrate. The repellent is plant-based and non-toxic, exempt under FIFRA 25(b). Treatment around water bodies needs planning — talk to us about how and where to apply it on your site.
Bird Bombs — spot treatment for enclosed spaces
Flock Free Bird Bombs are a scent repellent that gives you a long-lasting spot application. Each Bird Bomb is a highly absorbent pod designed to be saturated with Flock Free Bird Repellent, so the treatment stays put instead of needing to be re-sprayed.
Soak the Bird Bomb in the repellent solution — the mix rate is 50% concentrate to 50% water — then place it wherever you need to deter birds. They mount easily with zip ties or any other fastener.
They are designed for small, enclosed spaces: garbage cans, dumpsters, warehouses and small industrial facilities. Around a pond or fishery that means the enclosed parts of the site — feed rooms, bait stores and waste bins — rather than the open water itself. The Bird Bombs cause irritation that suppresses the birds’ desire to feed and creates a sense of danger in that space.
The 5-pack is supplied on its own and needs Flock Free Bird Repellent separately. The Bird Bomb Bundle includes a single Bird Bomb with a 4 fl oz bottle of concentrate to soak it in.
Choosing the Right Approach
With herons the question is simple: can you cover the water? If you can, do. A properly supported net over the pond ends the problem in a way that nothing else on this page matches, and everything else is a compromise around it.
If you can cover it, get two details right. Keep the net clear of the surface — one lying on the water can still be fished through and is a hazard to the fish — and take it right to the bank, because herons wade in from the shallow margin and a cover that stops short leaves the easy way in.
If full cover is not realistic, treat the surrounding area with the repellent program instead and accept that it is managing the visits rather than ending them. Around water this needs planning, so it is worth a conversation first.
The value of the stock usually settles how far to go. A general garden pond and a koi collection justify very different specifications. Since 2007, Flock Free has been protecting ponds, fisheries and aquaculture sites — call 732-987-5400 and we will size it up with you.
Related Bird Control Resources
- Bird Control Tips by Species of the Birds — our guidance across the other species we treat.
- Bird Netting and Accessories — netting, fixings and installation components.
- Hazers and Sprayers — application equipment.
- Liquid Products — the bird repellent range.
- Commercial Bird Control Services — for fisheries and larger sites.
Shop by Bird
Flock Free guidance for the other species we treat: