is it illegal to shoot herons?

Question

is it illegal to shoot herons that come into your garden and eat your fish. I dont want to cover the pond as this spoils the overall apperance, but i dont want to have to keep restocking the pond either.

Answer 1

get some form of scarecrow, if it sees anything that's of a resonable size and looks remotly human he won't go near your pond..... or get a dog, it is illegal to shoot them but not for your dog to eat them, that nature taking its course...

Answer 2

Heron, Great Blue, Ardea herodias
Green (=Green-backed), Butorides virescens (=striatus)
Green-backed (see Heron, Green)
Little Blue, Ardea caerulea
Night (see Night-Heron)
Pacific Reef, Ardea sacra
Tricolored, Ardea tricolor
All of the above herons are federally protected in the USA by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

If your pond is properly designed - no shallow areas - you will have limited to no heron problems. They are wading birds and like to walk through the water as they fish - they do NOT like to dive in deeper water.

Some people say that putting one of those life-like heron statues scares off other herons as they are territorial but I have seen a real heron next to the fake one. In fact I though they both were fake at first!

Good luck - I hope you find a legal method to protect your fish.

Answer 3

It doesn't matter, that's no way to control the Herons , they are great birds, don't blast them! Get your self a shiney metal moving object and put it where the Heron traffic is. A shiny whirly gig or something like that, something or somethings that will move and are shiny. That and a little lite noise maker should keep them away, give it a try, it maay take a few trys, but don't waste those birds, bless you!

Answer 4

Yes. all birds are protected species apart from Pigeons and possibly rooks and crows. Put one of those heron statues by the pond, a heron won't land if it thinks there is another one there already

Answer 5

you'll have to cover your pond, the netting is black plastic so you won't be able to see it at a distance but you will see whatever frame you build to hold up the netting
after a while the heron will learn to quit coming to your pond and you can uncover until another one finds you
keep your fingers crossed that a kingfisher doesn't find you, they are worse than the heron

Answer 6

my friend has a plastic heron as the real ones are lone birds and will only eat alone so they wont come near yr pond if you place a plastic or a stone one . good luck,

Answer 7

Get a plastic heron and the real ones won't land near it.

Answer 8

i don't think you're allowed to shoot Herons.What the heck are they doing in your garden?Cover your garden instead with chicken wire.Next year don't plant a garden or build a hot house or something.I think Herons are gorgeous and I'd gladly switch places with you.

Answer 9

Yes it most likely is illegal. Try using things like scarecrows and noise-makers to scare or discourage them from raiding your pond.

Answer 10

Yes