Mountain lion back and the.....

where I want to · #1 04/26/14, 10:34 PM

Goats are locked in the horse trailer for the night.
I've been looking at mountain/dog resistant goat housing but it's a matter of finding someone to build it for me. It would help if I could make up my mind on where and what to build. And for it to dry up for a week or two to set 8 ft fence posts so I can make a safe enclosure.
Both of my goat sheds have good and bad attributes. The small one is built with 3/4 " plywood and a steep and solid roof. A good door would be a temporary solution to mountain lions. But it is only 4x8 ' . But then I only have two goats. But way too small to confine them each night for long. And I can't figure out how to attach an enclosure.
The 8x8 shed has green house fiber glass roof, nowhere acceptable, and two holes in the siding where those dogs broke through. And it's just 4 feet from the horse shed and I don't want to make it a ramp for a mountain lion to get on the horse shed roof and drop down on the horses.

Any one have pictures of a reasonably inexpensive mountain lion proof goat house ? I have 50 ft of woven 6x' 2x2 fencing to use for the enclisure.

harvestmoonfarm · #2 04/26/14, 10:41 PM

Do you have LGDs?

where I want to · #3 04/26/14, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harvestmoonfarm

Do you have LGDs?

No. I don't think I'm up to more than one smaller dog as I had trouble lifting my80 lb lab before she died and I have less than three acres, and I talked to someone who lost 2 very large dogs to a mountain lion. And I only have the two goats left and one of my horses is a dog hater. I don't think that a guard dog is something I can do.

A safe house is what I'm looking for. I did see some small pictures of one on a "living with mountain lion" web site but it looked out of my ability to build.

V-NH · #4 04/26/14, 11:00 PM

Are mountain lions protected animals? My inclination would be to do what I could to get rid of the lion.

where I want to · #5 04/26/14, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V-NH

Are mountain lions protected animals? My inclination would be to do what I could to get rid of the lion.

Yes- very protected.

if you call fish and wildlife they tell you that naturally we have a "healthy" mountain lion population. Even when the mountain lion killed the horse down the hill, the best they did was give a permit for the owner to shoot a mountain lion if he saw one in his fields.

noeskimo · #6 04/26/14, 11:07 PM

Who cares if a protected animal attacks my livestock/home, and I kill them protecting the homestead? You have a right to protect your place.

V-NH · #7 04/26/14, 11:13 PM

We don't have mountain lions here, but we do have open season on coyotes. Sometimes when my chickens are free ranging I sit up in my 2nd story sun porch with a 30-30 and wait for the coyotes to try and snatch a couple. I think I would feel the same way about mountain lions.

where I want to · #8 04/27/14, 10:31 AM

Poor goaties- I got them out this morning and they were both shaking like a leaf. I think that they are still easily distressed after the dog attack three weeks ago.

I'm going to talk to my neighbors about this situation as see if they have any ideas. The neighbor whose property where the mountain lion is actually out is one I have never even seen. I think a recluse.

Alice In TX/MO · #9 04/27/14, 11:30 AM

Put a small shed on skids so you can move it!

where I want to · #10 04/27/14, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

Put a small shed on skids so you can move it!

Lol- that was the idea behind the small shed. Unfortunately I did not take into account our wet weather and the first time I tried to move it, I buried the tractor in the mud instead. It's firmly attached to its location now.

farmmaid · #11 04/27/14, 05:27 PM

A thought: In bear country people place boards around that have nails pounded through so they stick out an inch or two and place them with the nails up just outside the fence. If you have your dogs that roam outside the fence this will not work. Bee people do this also around their hives........Also ask a hair or dog groomer to save hair for you, them put some in old onion bags, make them smaller, and tie on the fence. I have been told Irish Spring hand soap tied around helps.......

where I want to · #12 04/27/14, 06:45 PM

I saw something that might work for the roof of an enclosure in the gardening section of all places. A picture of a blackberry trellis was shown that was a hog panel supported by 2x4s attached to 4x4 posts. I have a bunch of cattle panels and can use then to make a secure cover, a sort of arbor made of cattle panels with sides made of 2x2 6ft woven field fencing.

harvestmoonfarm · #13 04/27/14, 08:18 PM

Where dogs are concerned, it's SSS...shoot, shovel, shut-up...

dozedotz · #14 04/28/14, 04:51 PM

I wish I could help! Wow! Mountain lions (and a healthy population at that!). We only have the few that are "passing through" from the Dakotas in Missouri. We know this because the Conservation Department keeps close tabs on this stuff. For example, we never had bears until last year, but now we have a "healthy breeding population" that moved in suddenly (another word that needs interpretation) from Arkansas. I sure hope the "few young male lions" that pass through Missouri on their way to California or wherever they go when they wander off from the Dakotas keep wandering...we have enough problems with the suddenly migrating bears.

CAjerseychick · #15 04/29/14, 12:19 PM

We have 2 fulltime big dogs for our 2 acres (that kinda small acreage the dogs sit out on the back porch and watch from there and sound off when predators approach-- since most predators are shy of humans that works for us-- )-- Do you have a garage? Put the goats in the garage at night, that might work....

I didnt think lions want to snoop around houses at night...

where I want to · #16 04/30/14, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAjerseychick

We have 2 fulltime big dogs for our 2 acres (that kinda small acreage the dogs sit out on the back porch and watch from there and sound off when predators approach-- since most predators are shy of humans that works for us-- )-- Do you have a garage? Put the goats in the garage at night, that might work....

I didnt think lions want to snoop around houses at night...

Actually my shoer, who lives even more rural than I do, told me a story about a mountain lion attacking a pet pot belly pig on a woman's deck and, after she managed to drag the wounded pig inside her sliding glass door, the mountain lion sat there licking the blood off the glass.
California has arranged for mountain lions to believe that people are no threat and can be disregarded.

oldasrocks · #17 04/30/14, 11:11 AM

I'd be building a extra large live trap for the lions. I've done this for coons that were too large for a store bought live trap. Start with galvanized horse panels. Weld a frame to bolt the panels too.

where I want to · #18 04/30/14, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldasrocks

I'd be building a extra large live trap for the lions. I've done this for coons that were too large for a store bought live trap. Start with galvanized horse panels. Weld a frame to bolt the panels too.

That is an idea I'm going to think on.

CAjerseychick · #19 04/30/14, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by where I want to

Actually my shoer, who lives even more rural than I do, told me a story about a mountain lion attacking a pet pot belly pig on a woman's deck and, after she managed to drag the wounded pig inside her sliding glass door, the mountain lion sat there licking the blood off the glass.
California has arranged for mountain lions to believe that people are no threat and can be disregarded.

Geeesse, I guess most of my neighbors around here are SSS types, they are still shy here, there is a bear around but so far hasnt started on garbage cans etc...our dogs are pretty loud and 3 of them total-- about 300lbs of dog ... so most things choose easier pickings...

ALso I had a ramp that folded up and you put it behind the car seat, for our old arthritic dog to get into the car ....Never had to lift her...

I guess if I had a lion that was doing that right up against my house I would get into my car and turn the lights on and Honk?....Or.....

where I want to · #20 04/30/14, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAjerseychick

Geeesse, I guess most of my neighbors around here are SSS types, they are still shy here, there is a bear around but so far hasnt started on garbage cans etc...our dogs are pretty loud and 3 of them total-- about 300lbs of dog ... so most things choose easier pickings...

ALso I had a ramp that folded up and you put it behind the car seat, for our old arthritic dog to get into the car ....Never had to lift her...

.

Well, I've never heard of a mountain lion breaking into a house, unlike a bear. I had a friend who had her back door ripped off by a bear reaching inside though a pet door to get the cat food.

I have a ramp too but she still need to be lifted some otherwise she could not get up the ramp into the pick up. Unfortunately I was getting sicker and weaker at the same time she was.