"Yabbadoo" wrote in message
...
To answer your question without having to wade through all the OT traffic
polluting the thread...

Yes, herons (and almost all wild birds) are a protected species in UK. Not only
that, but it's illegal for private individuals to own any firearm (which
includes shotguns) so predators (non-human) can only be deterred by passive
means.

I, too, had my pond cleaned out by a heron. I grew up in farming country where
shotguns were part of life (for rats, rabbiting, etc). Nearly 50 years ago, a
friend aged 14 accidentally shot/killed another friend, climbing over a stile
and fell, gun in hand, whilst rabbiting.

Deterrance, not extermination, is the civilised solution. "Final" solutions
have potential for disaster.

Sincerely, Len

Thank you. We seem to be sliding down a very muddy slope into a pit of barbaric
mob behavior of late.