Critters (My pond is on the menu)

[hdhearts]

Help!!!!
I got up in the middle of the night and a family of racoons were checking out my pond, seeing what might be on the menu. I now know whats been chomping on my Apple Snails and water lettuce. My hubby thinks a 22 might be the answer, but I would rather not go to that measure.
Anyone have any ideas how to discourage my late night visitors?
I also have a cat checking out the pond from time to time.
Thanks

[blitzen25bm]

theres lots of stuff you can use a net over the pond, electric fences, motion sensors that will spray them. tons of stuff some says certain things work some dont. i think netting works good if you dont mind how it looks i just use normal bird netting for herons cause thats all i have. the raccons might bite through those. maybe putting some stuff like fox urine or blood or something like that might scare them off.

[Klair Vouyant]

Hello,

I spotted your post regarding the critters. Well, let me tell you about those raccoons. I had fifteen laying hens one week and the next week none. I was just sick! During that week many alterations were made to my coop and the darn thing tore through metal roofing to get into my henhouse. I am a gentle creature, a lover of nature but I was very p*ssed off. Some of these hens I had had for three years. I sat out late that night and shot the darn thing...25 pound raccoon. During much research on this critter as a predator I found that even grizzleys avoid them but they do have one enemy and that is the coyote. They say coyote urine will send them packing from your area. I have begun to notice since October that my little school of pond fish in my 400 gallon pond has diminished to about five. I have yet to use the urine I find it more cost effective to buy bullets. I did put some military camo netting over the pond and this has seemed to deter them for the moment. I lost four Koi last year to the little critters. Eventually you develop a vendetta for the things. GOOD LUCK!