[moonwolf]

This time it's a viscous pine marten came around tonight
Killed 13 of my prime young laying chicken flock.
Went out at dark, there was a young bird hunkered down
in driveway by house. I go down to the barn which is like
50 yards away and the carnage ! I pick up the dead and the
creepy critter with blood on nose evidence stares me down.
I go back to get the .22 and load it . He is there on the ledge
Ready to flee. Me head band light in the dark illuminates
the target and I shoot the bad ass twice in neck and head.
It falls still moving. I pump in 2 more rounds . Finally , it's
dead with half the skull shot away. Ugly! Frustrating to take
such a loss. I have had every predator you can think of last
year after my birds including eagles, grey owls, fox, and worst
of all mink. Now this! Pine marten as bad ass killers as mink,
and bigger with more mouth and teeth! We'll, have to get
setting more killer traps and have some late night vigils
with gun and subsonic ammo, lights and hope for the best.

The pelt won't go to waste. My trapper aquaintance will
take it. They are rather valuable around here. I hate those
weasly critters!

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

Earlier this year, I was losing young goats right and left, with no predator tracks (and plenty of mud this year for easy tracking), no blood sign, no nothing. Then one day I was watching a squirrel in the pasture and all of a sudden a huge raptor scooped it up and flew up the hill past the window where I was. It was either by far the largest hawk I've ever seen or something bigger, like an eagle. Wish I could have gotten a picture. But anyhow, as small as that squirrel looked in its talons, I'm pretty sure it could have picked up a small goat.

 

[Oxankle]

Wreck; a big eagle can kill a fawn. Around here big hawks carry off Yorkshire terriers. My friend down the road has a side door with a doggie door that opens into a chain link pen about ten feed long, totally covered. I'm not that fond of dogs.

A young kid would be no challenge for any of the eagles. For that matter, the buzzards have taken to killing calves down in S. Texas where my younger brother lives.

 

[elkhound]

sorry for yalls homestead loss...!

 

[Terri]

I hate predators.

I no longer free range my flock, and their run has a chain link top to it to keep the predators out. My birds have always slept behind a closed door- right now I am using a big garden shed- but that is not enough any longer! The neighboring field has been turned into a housing development and the predators that hunted there are apparently hunting in back yards instead!

I LOVED free-ranging my birds with my dog to protect them but I can no longer do that! The pressure from the predators are just too bad!

 

[collegeboundgal]

murderous, nasty, evil, dastardly tho they maybe, they sure are cute... :cute:

 

[newfieannie]

I watched an eagle come and take my sons dog . this was years ago. fair size dog too. I ran screaming after it but of course it didn't do any good. ~Georgia.

 

[handymama]

Reminds me of when a **** managed to get into the duck coop. Ripped the legs off and entrails out but couldn't get the body out. Sick as it may be, I left the body til the next night and lay in wait with the shotgun, knowing it would be back.
Poof, raccoon disappeared...

 

[moonwolf]

murderous, nasty, evil, dastardly tho they maybe, they sure are cute... :cute:

I live with all sorts of wildlife around because of the variety
of ecosystems from lowland marsh to pure growth pine stands
and even open acres of good pasture. I don't light take to
Killing off the animals. They have prime variety of prey like
field mice to hare, grouse and deer. This marten was impossibly
misplaced at the barn. I won't trade off that many dead chickens
and feeding cost to feed martens and mink. They aren't that
'Cute' if you see the bloody face and devilish eyes not giving
a second thought to be dispatched.

RW, bald eagles here carefully hunt in pairs scouting the
prey. They have all the weapons at their talons needed to
Kill any goat kid or big goose or other baby big game animals.

 

[sherry in Maine]

sorry about your dead chickens, Moonwolf. Other years, I've had hawks, fox, fisher and skunk kill some. This year, no losses (ever, I hope). Glad you got the predator, sorry it was too late.

 

[Twp.Tom]

I went out into the barn last night, to do evening chores-and Mrs. Turkey(Tom's girl), was sitting on the ground, and she would not get up for evening grain. I knew something was wrong, looking closer, it seems that something had tried to ring her neck, it was a little bloody. I hope that She is ok,or better this Morning. I think that She may have gotten tangled up with an owl, or a dog? I normally won't mess with predator's, unless they mess with Me, or mine. If I hear a ruckus in the barnyard, I will be appearing armed-with buckshot.

*Doing barn chores today-I found her Dead.

 

[moldy]

We lost several piglets to hawks until we figured out what it was.