Tiger Proofing the Homestead?

Beaners · #1 01/27/08, 09:44 AM

Alright, this is a more theoretical question than anything. Last night I had a dream that my husband and I wanted to build on a piece of land adjacent to my grandfather's house, the only problem was, there were TIGERS. And in this dream, I kept trying to think of a way that would allow me to still have my garden and some livestock without being eaten by a tiger.

So, for the sake of discussion, if you lived in a part of the world where there were predators like lions and tigers, what would you do? How do you protect your livestock, and yourself? Is electric fencing enough, or even any good at all? Or do you build something like a zoo enclosure all the way around the outside of the property?

In my dream, we just mowed down all the brush that is in the old pasture, so we could see them coming and get to the house in time. Yeah right, like that would work!

Kayleigh

**ladycat** · #2 01/27/08, 10:05 AM

8 foot tall chain link fence with hot wire around the top?

I saw a thing on TV about how they have to repel big cats from going in suburban yards and farmer's fields. Watermelon farmers in Africa have a real problem keeping the lions from getting in their fields and eating the watermelons.

From what I remember of the show, depending on where and the circumstances, tall fences or other barriers, and/or large dogs, and/or guards with guns are used to protect property from big cats and elephants.

I'm sure glad I don't live there!!

Michael Kawalek · #3 01/27/08, 10:10 AM

Hi Kayleigh
I read something about forest workers being attacked by tigers in India. Typically tigers leap down from trees onto their victims, snapping their necks in their jaws. One conspicuous habit of tigers though is that they wait till the victim's back is turned and are looking away from the tiger. Then they leap. One way to trick the tigers is to wear a realistic facemask backwards so the tiger can't tell when your back is turned. Forest workers wearing facemasks had a much, much lower incedence of tiger attacks then other workers. So, when you go to bed tonight, put on your facemask before laying down, and during your dream you know you'll be safe.

Wildwood Flower · #4 01/27/08, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Kawalek

Hi Kayleigh
I read something about forest workers being attacked by tigers in India. Typically tigers leap down from trees onto their victims, snapping their necks in their jaws. One conspicuous habit of tigers though is that they wait till the victim's back is turned and are looking away from the tiger. Then they leap. One way to trick the tigers is to wear a realistic facemask backwards so the tiger can't tell when your back is turned. Forest workers wearing facemasks had a much, much lower incedence of tiger attacks then other workers. So, when you go to bed tonight, put on your facemask before laying down, and during your dream you know you'll be safe.

I saw that show too. However, after awhile the tigers got wise to the facemasks.

EDDIE BUCK · #5 01/27/08, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Kawalek

Hi Kayleigh
I read something about forest workers being attacked by tigers in India. Typically tigers leap down from trees onto their victims, snapping their necks in their jaws. One conspicuous habit of tigers though is that they wait till the victim's back is turned and are looking away from the tiger. Then they leap. One way to trick the tigers is to wear a realistic facemask backwards so the tiger can't tell when your back is turned. Forest workers wearing facemasks had a much, much lower incedence of tiger attacks then other workers. So, when you go to bed tonight, put on your facemask before laying down, and during your dream you know you'll be safe.

LOL
Doe's it make a difference being bit in the throat or the back of the neck,both will ring heaven's doorbell?

Eddie

Ernie · #6 01/27/08, 11:07 AM

If I lived in a place like that, I'd build a sturdy log house (raised like a traditional Polynesian longhouse) and keep lots of big dogs.

I'd also have some nice tiger skin blankets to roll up in at night.

hunter63 · #7 01/27/08, 11:09 AM

Slow day?

MushCreek · #8 01/27/08, 11:14 AM

I worked with a guy who grew up in Viet Nam, and they lived with the problem regularly. One story he told was about how a tiger was getting his grandfather's 'food' dogs (yes, they raised dogs for food). Not wanting to risk any of his valuable dogs, he used one of the grandmother's pet dogs, chaining it out in the yard to draw the tiger within shooting range. He never told me what his house was like- I doubt it was much. He also used to plow with a water buffalo. His first exposure to a motor vehicle was the 24 hour bus ride to Saigon. Talk about culture shock!

Beaners · #9 01/27/08, 11:24 AM

You know what...it never even occurred to me in my dream that I could fight back against them. That changes everything!

I guess I should try and find a mask for tonight.

Kayleigh

BillHoo · #10 01/27/08, 11:43 AM

In Jackson, NJ a few years back, a stray tiger was found roaming the woods.

Six Flags, Great Adventure nearby has a tiger preserve for their safari, but they said they had full accountability of all their tigers and documentation to prove it.

Then there was the crazy tiger lady who also lived nearby and had like 20 tigers on her property. She claimed it surely was not one of her tigers!

Later, she got into some trouble for not having the proper documentation and pressure from the township to move out. She later tried to reestablish her tiger ranch in New Hampshire, but the townsfolk set up a picket and put signs at the city limits saying, "Tigers not welcome!"

I myself used to scare my junior enlisted troops when we did national guard training in the woods of nearby Fort Dix, NJ. I kept copies of the news articles just in case some of the younguns thought I was simply pulling their leg. Ya'll better be careful at night when you head out to the port-o-potties, lest a tiger get ya! - I used to warn.

Perhaps a big spray can of Tiger-B-Gone will help you.

Other than that, from a Freudian view... Therapist Bill says, "Zee Tiger in your dreamz is a representazhun of your fears. Zee literal Volf at your door. Zince eat iz a tiger, you fear a foreign threat. Perhaps concerns of the far east? In zee vords of Zeigried and Roy - You must not fear zee tiger. You must learn to LOOOOOVE the tiger. <insert hip gyration gesture here>"

As for the tiger lady, I haven't seen her in the news for a while. I hate it when the guberment comes around and tells me how I have to raise my tigers!

Chas in Me · #11 01/27/08, 12:13 PM

The tigers are you and in you. They are the part of you that is putting on the brakes about you wanting to build. Look carefully at who you are and how badly you want to build new. Doing that will show you what the tigers really are. Once you know them, you will be able to deal with what they represent.
Good luck.
Chas

DocM · #12 01/27/08, 12:14 PM

I used to use dogs to protect my flocks from big cougars - until a cougar came in and killed one of the pyrs and maimed the other (and killed a couple horses). Dogs won't win against a cougar, so they'd have no chance against a tiger, ha. Tigers, like cougars, are ambush killers - they make a run from a concealed place, and rarely chase their prey more than a few yards into the open. During the day, the animals keep to the open areas (they know there are predators in the trees). I take them out into the woods every day (armed). At night they're run into secure pens (8' fences) or locked sheds. No more problems with big cats.

texican · #13 01/27/08, 12:18 PM

If you have fears in this world, they will manifest themselves at night...

I use to have lots of fears... most of them irrational... situations that I would never encounter in the real world... such as walking on rope bridges, between two skyscrapers.

I read up on dreams, their causes, etc. I found out, that if I consciously think about something an hour before going to bed, that I'll likely dream about that subject... and I could manipulate the dreams. If something were trying to 'get me'... I'd pull out an appropriate weapon and eliminate it. If I couldn't eliminate it, I could "fly away"...

If I had tiger's pestering me in my dreams... I'd do several things... easiest would be to whoop out a 'tiger gun'... or have a stampede of elephants squoosh them... or if I were really feeling my oats, wrassle with it, bridle and saddle the tiger, and ride it through the jungle.

Empower yourself... I can 'deal' with stuff in the real world... I'll be danged if I'm putting up with any hockey (unless it's ice hockey, of which I'm fantabulous

... {course, I've never worn skates in the real world})

**highlands** · #14 01/27/08, 01:45 PM

Tigers? Get dogs. Big dogs. Lots of big dogs. Lots of aggressive, mean, nasty, big hungry, livestock guardian dogs who are part of your pack and absolutely hate tigers. They will leave posters around that say: "No Trespassing!" in a language the tigers understand. Don't chain the dogs unless you want the tigers to eat them. Realize the tigers may eat some of them anyways. It's a numbers game. Your gang is bigger and badder than the tigers' gang.

We have a local mountain lion that comes through our valley roughly on a monthly basis. The dogs keep it at bay. In comparison to the mountain lion the bears are good neighbors.

Cheers

-Walter
Sugar Mountain Farm
in the mountains of Vermont
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/blog/
http://HollyGraphicArt.com/
http://NoNAIS.org

Ninn · #15 01/27/08, 06:18 PM

I'd move.

JJ Grandits · #16 01/27/08, 07:14 PM

I'd just go with 2 or 3 guard Elephants. They'll take care the tigers and provide tons of manure for the garden.

deaconjim · #17 01/27/08, 07:22 PM

We have a panther in these parts. I've seen him a couple of times, as have some of our neighbors. The dogs will deter them most of the time, unless they are determined for some reason. In that case, the dogs will at least give you notice of a problem, and you can invoke whatever control methods that you find necessary (non-lethal, PETA approved of course).

Old Vet · #18 01/27/08, 09:10 PM

Raise grizely bears. The tigers hate bears.

Alice In TX/MO · #19 01/27/08, 09:17 PM

There are bears in the Ozarks, and I've never seen a tiger there. So, it must be true that tigers are afraid of bears.

PyroDon · #20 01/27/08, 09:42 PM

Dig a deep mote type tiger trap and bait it with rabid PETA members .
Of course if you just want to keep them (and everyone else) away you could play a 24hour looped recording of Ann coulter and Hillary C. speeches . A day or two on that and even the weeds will commit suicide