How to Keep Raccoons Out of Your Fish Pond
by Tory Jon | Last Updated: September 22, 2026
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Have fish gone missing overnight, or have you spotted a masked visitor near your pond? Raccoons may look cute, but they can eat pond fish and other small animals when they find an easy way to reach the water.
The best response uses layers. Make the fish harder to reach, then remove the food sources that encourage raccoons to return.
The Basics Of Raccoons
Before you try to discourage these little critters, it helps to know a little about them. After all, it’s easier to defeat an enemy that you understand!
Raccoons are intelligent and adaptable creatures. Their average lifespan in the wild is two to three years. They have dexterous hands with extremely sensitive pads and strong claws.
Over the past several decades, raccoons learned to live in more urban and suburban areas where they can find plenty of food and shelter - which you may have noticed since you're reading this article.
What Raccoons Eat
Raccoons are not picky creatures when it comes to food. It’s not uncommon to find them in a garbage can or at least see the after-effects of one using your trash as an all-you-can-eat buffet.
A basic raccoon diet includes everything from fruits and nuts to grubs and eggs, but they don’t shy away from small animals. Raccoons may also eat mice, birds, fish, and amphibians when these animals are within reach.
Why Raccoons Love Your Fish Pond
Fish and amphibians can represent a tempting meal for raccoons, like the ultimate sushi dinner!
They can stand along an accessible pond edge and use their quick front paws to snatch a fish from shallow water.
A well-stocked fish pond may become a repeat food source if raccoons can easily reach the fish.
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How To Keep Raccoons Out Of Your Fish Pond
Keeping raccoons out of your fish pond can be a challenge, but layered protection can make the fish much harder to reach.
Plan Your Pond Wisely
Raccoons are capable swimmers and good at solving problems. Around a fish pond, the more practical concern is that accessible shallow edges let them forage without going far into the water. Remove food that attracts raccoons, and block their access to the pond.
A deeper fish refuge and less accessible edges can make fish harder to reach.
- Include a deeper central refuge where fish can retreat.
- Use hides made for pond fish, with smooth surfaces and stable placement. Size the openings so fish can enter and leave without becoming trapped.
- Use pond netting or another predator cover designed for outdoor pond use. Anchor it securely and pull it taut. Support it above the water when practical, then inspect it routinely for damage or sagging that could trap wildlife.
A pond net does not replace a child-safety barrier. Check your local requirements before installing either one.
If you want a fine-mesh outdoor pond cover, consider DeWitt Deluxe Pond Netting. It uses UV-treated polypropylene with bonded 1/4-inch mesh.
Reduce Raccoon Attractants Around Your Home
Reducing attractants across your property makes pond protection more effective. Other food sources may draw raccoons into the yard before they ever notice the fish. The Humane Society of the United States advises homeowners to remove accessible food and secure their trash. It also recommends humane exclusion when raccoons are sheltering in or around a structure.
- Don’t leave pet food outside overnight.
- Store garbage in a shed or in sturdy bins with tightly secured lids.
- If you have fruit trees, use a properly fitted tree guard where appropriate and pick up fallen fruit regularly.
- Place a motion-activated sprinkler along a common approach route, away from pond edges and walkways.
If a raccoon is living under your deck or shed, contact local animal control before closing the opening.
Flashing lights can be tried as an optional extra layer, but pair them with attractant control and a secure barrier. They may provide only temporary results because raccoons can become accustomed to frightening devices, as noted in UC Integrated Pest Management guidance.
