Blasted Coyotes!

The last two nights have been quiet here. Maybe my after dark fireworks with my .38 has caused them to move on or at least away from our homestead. I spooked a deer last night that was in the timber to the east of our house. A good sign that the yotes aren't around at the moment.

I've heard of deer clearing 7 foot fences from a local conservation rep. If they can do it so can a yote. Plus, the gentleman we bought our farm from had a smooth coat collie as a farm dog. About coyote sized, I saw that dog jump 6 strand barbed wire with room to spare. That fence was 4+ feet tall to keep large draft horses and cattle confined. He cleared it from a standing start and made it look easy.

I have no doubts a coyote could do the same thing if not higher, or at least find a way to go through a barbed wire fence. Our own dogs did that until one of them got clipped by a truck and we hot wired the front fence line to keep them confined.

I'm planning a chicken coop for this spring. It will be hot wired. Not only do we have the coyotes and occasional cougar and or birds of prey but we also have raccoons that are big enough to strap a saddle on that we have to worry about.

At least they haven't kept us up at night partying.

__________________
I'm in my own little world, but it's ok. They know me here!

LIke I said my fences are not quite that good.
6 feet of field fence hot wires inside and out top and bottom.
Not in the least expensive compared to losing sleep or stock.

Re: fencing -- The lady I knew worked with zoos and scientists, and bred selectively, for conservation purposes. She had a state permit (not easy to get in Arizona, which bans pet ownership of any wild predator) and I suspect appropriate fencing was part of the deal. She had locked double gates (sally ports, I think they're called) on all the wolf pens, and a video security system, too. And she had guard dogs protecting her property, which amused me ... she was genuinely worried about theft of the animals, the wolves in particular.

Don't know what happened to her -- I drove by the property one day and she was gone, along with all the animals, and the place was for sale. Heard through the grapevine that she'd lost funding for her project and had to get out of it, but I don't know if that's true.

The place was out in the country, I'd say about an acre was fenced in for the animals.

She had electric on her perimeter fence to keep the critters in, too. Said she didn't want to use it inside the pens because a wolf or coyote could get zapped and then, in a panic/fear state, attack another animal.