Unknown predator....

15 pound goose..proably was the cougar..i don't even think a bobcat can eat that much..but a cougar would..and they can jump into the tree..don't have to climb..try putting flashing around the bottom of the tree..if it makes it above the flashing...you have a cougar..

Thanks for all the responses! If it follows the pattern it has it won't be back until Saturday night at the earliest. We will be waiting up every night though to see if we can't catch it.

Set up tripwires everywhere, with tin cans tied on. Stay up all night. Have a .22 rifle with a spotlight/maglight taped on, and zeroed in with scope (10-22 with 50 round clips work most excellent).

You got coons or possums, they'll come back until you have nothing left to eat.

A member on this board has a very effective way of dealing with predators, but it's not nice and it's not pc. And you can't have any kind of outdoor pets. Of course, if you had an outside dog or dozen, you wouldn't have the vermin problem...

Good luck, and happy shooting!

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Patt: We live on Back bone ridge. They say there are no Mountain Loins around here. But we have sighted some. Not just one. Get some ash, sand or fine dirt. Wet sand is best. Spread it around about two inches thick and make the spot large enough to where your predator may step in it. You will know for sure what you are dealing with.

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I really, really hope it is not a cougar! I would think it would go for the goats or little pigs though before it would go after poultry.

I've found that a good layer of flour on the ground around the coop is one of the best ways to discover predator paw prints..When I thought that coons were under my shed, it turned out to be a new family of groundhogs..flour works very well..

Mountain Loins??? Can you get a picture and post it? I'd love to see some Loins!

"out Here", where is that?

Most loins are smooth and lean, but mountain loins tend to be peaky!!!

poultry is easier. a work aquaintance of my husband stayed up to figure out what was breaking into her coop and eating her chickens. it was a moutnain lion. that was in bixby, OK. a freinds neigbor in beggs,OK had a mum and cub run across her driveway as she was coming home and another had a horse attacked. they are out there in this neck o the woods. and they are opportunistic just as with most predators. if they can't find something easy (snagging a guinea off a roost) then they will start going for the next step up. I would figure out what it is for sure asap. I'm curious since we are not terribly far from where you describe.

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Yep, I am in the same general area. Same critters would be here as up around Bixby or over where Patt is. There are the normal coon, possums and coyotes here, but there are others to. There are cougar, black bear, bobcat, lynx and who knows what else out in the hills and woods. A couple years ago there were some African lions that were preying on cattle not too far from here. No one knows where the lions originated from, but reports of sightings go back for years. There used to be Circus train that had wrecks or escapees. Just because a critter isn't native doesn't mean it can't live in the area. Just look at how the Burmese Pythons are taking over the Everglades.
I haven't seen or heard a bigfoot around here, but I saw a documentary that said this area has had more reportings than any other place in America. Some of the native Americans around here swear they exist. No telling what all lives back in the thickets around here. Some places are so densely wooded that a man can't even walk through. Lots of critters could be living around and not be seen.
Keep us posted, Patt. And Good Luck!
Okie

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We had something like this happen a few years ago. Chickens missing, eggs gone, and all the sweet corn was being eaten. Found the new neighbor and his girl friend helping themselves. They were hungry and strung out on something. They are serving some time now. Don't rule out people, there are a lot of out of work and hungry people around now. Just a thought.

unclejae

omg didn't even think of peple !

Last year we had a little hawk swoop down and snatch one of our full grown pekin ducks out of the pond. I would never have believed a bird that small could take off with a bird that much bigger if I had not seen it with my own eyes.

I agree with everyone else. Lay sand or something down. Put an egg on it to lure them and check the tracks. If there are none look to the skies.

I do hope it isn't people! So far it hasn't been back, tonight would be it's normal night though if it keeps to the same schedule. My husband will be up all night tonight with the gun so hopefully he will get whatever it is!

You could hang some leg traps on the tree...bigger the better. You could probably find them at a flea market. Just a thought...instead of putting down sand or setting up a camera, just catch the varmint!

When we initially got chickens, we lost 16 to almost every predator known to man. Then we learned how to protect them better. My guess would be a bobcat. We lost four in one day to a bobcat. Typically a cougar won't come back day after day unless they are having a hard time finding food. A bobcat will go for the easiest kill possible day after day and frequently drag it away to eat.

Having a lot of experience with teaching people how to keep their poultry safe I do have advice for you. Just keep your birds in a secure pen. That's all it takes. Easy to construct and it will be predator safe. Not that I am not curious too as to what it is that is taking your birds.

You can do it with as little as cedar 2X2"s, hardware cloth and a secure cover/roof and put strong wire to cover the bottom of the pen on the ground and extending outside of the sides. NO chicken wire! It's only to keep birds IN, not to keep predators OUT. Even this simple pen will deter Cougars.

By keeping your birds unsecured you have sent out free passes to a Vegas Buffet to any predator that wants a free meal. Not the predators fault, they are just trying to make a living like anyone else. You have taken on the responsibility of keeping birds. Its YOUR job to keep them safe.

LQ

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Amen. The only times wild predators have gotten my birds is when I was home too late. In the daytime the only predators are the occasional hawk & the neighbor's dogs.

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God bless,
Bonnie
Opportunity Farm
Northeast Washington

"While we have the opportunity, let us do good to all." Galatians 6:10

Your Predator ate my Guineas!!!
Had seven went out to check and there were three. Two days later there were none???
Door to pen was still double locked. All that was left was a foot in the middle of the pen.Which way is it traveling? On top of back bone ridge.

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