Got a Pond Pest Problem? Find Your Solution

If there’s anything that can ruin the quiet of the morning or a relaxing sunset over your pond, it’s pests. These little critters, winged or legged, can wreak havoc on your carefully planned and beautifully maintained pond or water garden. Here’s what to do to kick out common uninvited guests.

Geese. They sure are picturesque – but they can also be messy, loud, and, on occasion, aggressive. One of the most effective methods of control for geese are decoy coyotes. Using a life-like, full sized decoy  coyote can be a great way to chase away pesky geese. Decoys can be set up so that they move when the wind hits them, and if you move them to a new location by your pond every few days or so, the geese will not become accustomed to the decoys, increasing effectiveness.

Muskrats. Nothing can ruin a picturesque pond like these busy animals! A single pair can move in to your pond, and before you know it, you have a whole colony. Apart from their nasty habit of leaving vegetation scattered about and chewing on your aerator lines, these rodents are happiest when burrowing through your pond bank, causing collapses and leaks. So how do we get rid of these destructive little critters? The best way to rid yourself of this pest is through humane trapping. You can opt for foothold traps or box traps (box traps can trap multiple rats). If you prefer not to do this yourself, contact a local trapper to take care of it. They charge a nominal fee or do it free for the practice and/or hide. Why not live trap them? Because then you release them elsewhere and make it someone else’s problem and it’s often illegal.

Birds. These pests can decimate your fish population. Keep them away with a great horned owl decoy – this owl is the natural “enemy” of many species, and they will steer clear of your pond. Again, make sure to move it frequently. If you’ve got a blue heron problem, scare it away with a blue heron decoy; these birds rarely flock together!

If you’ve got a pest problem, we’ve got a solution. Ask us how we can keep your mornings calm, your evenings relaxing, and all the time in between free of problem critters.

Controlling Mosquitoes Near Your Pond

Almost everyone has a happy place they can escape to at the end of a work week. Your work shop, quilting room, even the gym. For many pond owners, it’s a lawn chair, watching the sun go down as their fish start their evening feeding at the edge of their pond. Nothing could ruin this moment for them… until the mosquitoes show up. After that, well, the party is pretty much over. So, how do you get rid of these winged marauders?

Well, there are several things you can do to make your backyard and pond much less hospitable to these uninvited guests:

• Get Your Water Moving. Mosquitoes need to lay their eggs in stagnant or still water, and nothing moves the water in your pond better than a bubbling aerator. Or, if you have a small back yard water feature, a small fountain could be perfect. Plus with a little lighting, you’re not just getting rid of mosquitoes, but adding some serious cool points to your backyard.
• Attract bats. Bats feast on mosquitoes and leave us alone.  A single bat can eat 1,000 mosquitoes per hour. Just think what a whole colony of bats could do! Invite bats into your pond area with a bat house (buy it or DIY).
• Stock the right fish. Many species of fish eat mosquito larvae. Bass, Bluegill, and even Catfish find these pests to be a delicious feast. But be careful! Some species that are sold to control mosquitoes, like the Mosquitofish (aka Gambusia affinis) are invasive, and often illegal! Give us a call for more information on pond stocking, or check out our blog on stocking the right fish for your pond!
• Starve them out. While you may think mosquitoes sole source of food is you, they eat algae as well. Use a safe algae-controlling product to deplete the food that larval mosquitos need.
• Eliminate other sources of stagnant water. If you have tires, buckets, pet dishes, or other receptacles that can hold stagnant water around your pond and yard, dump them. You don’t want to create more breeding grounds.

Everyone can agree, mosquitoes are just about the worst, but they’re far from unbeatable. With a few of these tips in place, you can settle back down on that lawn chair and watch the rest of the sunset, with a little less to worry about.