Bold Bobcat

Hi

We are having issues with a bobcat who is hunting mid day in our yard. He is probably rather used to people as we have seen him 3 times in the past couple of weeks.

He has 2x jumped in from the neighbors 6 foot wooden fence in plan view from a major street complete with big trucks and machinery doing road work.

Yesterday we though we were safe letting the hens out in a small area for half an hour about 2 in the afternoon with my 91 mom sitting with the four remaining hens while I stood at the fence the cat has been seen at. The cat must have been watching us and leaped the 4 foot chainlink fence and grabbed a hen 5 feet from mom.

Being in town where trapping is a big no no we can't shoot or poison it either nor would we. Also I can't do a hot wire or Barb wire because of my elderly mom and 18 month old grandson

Thankfully the hens are safe in their coop, the one the cat got is still alive but not looking good. I am going to have to figure out a away to add to the run because for the past almost 50 years the hens free ranged in our yard with no bob cat losses. Or at least none that we knew were caused by a bobcat. Is 1/2"?hardware cloth enough? Do I need heavier wire too? Has anyone tried kennel panels with bobcats?

I have laid out the whole garden 2x for the hens and am out of good places to make a bigger run but might have to take out some fruit trees for run space.

What would you do in this situation?

Our street side fence is only 4 feet tall and has a guava hedge on the inside. We raised the bottom of the hedge and trimmed the interior up so we can see a hiding cat but it must be watching from across the street. I am thinking of cutting the hedge two 2 foot stumps and letting it come back. This was I can see the beast before it comes over the fence

We have trimmed back most everything else that can provide cover. But this is a hungry cat and I think as long as we have hens it will be back. I have a small dog and a cat so it could eat them too. But mostly I worry about my grandson.

Animal control is zero help. And am waiting to hear back from the state......

Have you considered contacting a wildlife control specialist and paying to have the cat removed?

I have left a message with the dept of fish and game. I would need a permit from them to hire some one but am hoping they will trap and release since it is in town.

I probably will not hear back until next week due to the holiday

Well fish and game was useless suggestions include throwing a rock at the cat or hosing him down

You mention you wouldn't shoot it. I would. Air guns can be fired in town limits. A single shot .22 pellet gun would dispatch him.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Crosman-Nitro-Venom-Dusk-NP-.22-Air-Rifle-with-Scope/16536075

I've a Walther similar to this. The nitro pistons are an excellent feature. And only use real lead pellets not the high velocity alloy.

Can't you live trap? Then relocate the trap with cat inside to a location where shooting is legal? Look up the laws in your state, which likely are online. That fur should be beautiful now! Mary

Alternatives to shooting it:
Arm yourself with a waterhose with a good nozzle and spray the heck out of that creature from a hiding place.
Make a decoy chicken out of a ballon wrapped in a cheap feather boa. Even add some real feathers. Use some dye or sharpies and make it match your chicken colors. When it pops, it will scare the cat.
Borrow a dog and keep the chickens locked up.
Add an electric fence wire to the top of the fences, but make sure to put up warning signs for people.
Borrow a live animal trap and put in chicken from the store that is covered with feathers fallen from your birds.

As a last resort, jump the chain of command and write a letter to your state representative about the lack of help you are getting with a dangerous animal. I guarantee you will get a response before you know it.



$1.19 at Bargain Balloons it is 18" tall. Good stand in for a chicken!

Kikiriki said:

Alternatives to shooting it:
Arm yourself with a waterhose with a good nozzle and spray the heck out of that creature from a hiding place.
Make a decoy chicken out of a ballon wrapped in a cheap feather boa. Even add some real feathers. Use some dye or sharpies and make it match your chicken colors. When it pops, it will scare the cat.
Borrow a dog and keep the chickens locked up.
Add an electric fence wire to the top of the fences, but make sure to put up warning signs for people.
Borrow a live animal trap and put in chicken from the store that is covered with feathers fallen from your birds.

As a last resort, jump the chain of command and write a letter to your state representative about the lack of help you are getting with a dangerous animal. I guarantee you will get a response before you know it.

Click to expand...

You will get a much faster response by calling and taking to them.

Fish and Game were given a chance. You've a right to protect your pets on your land. If a bobcat is on your land in daylight after scaling fences it's not sight seeing or passing through. Regardless, if you choose to dispatch racoon sized animals with these guns it should be less than 50ft away, heavier 14+ gram lead pellet, for clean kills.

When you start calling supervisors, if you have a list of when you called each person, the questions you asked, the answers you were given and the person's name, you will be taken very seriously. Be sure to remain calm, to the point and be ready to answer questions.

I lived in a neighborhood that had a roving pack of "wild dogs". The neighbors had given up trying to have anything done with the "pack". After my cat was attacked, having to break up a fight between my house dog, and picking clothing up out of the yard that had been hanging on the line; i called animal control. They were very slow to do anything about the pack. Their entire effort revolved around "we already tried to trap them. They are too smart to go in a trap." After finding out who their supervisor was, i started calling and talking to each different supervisor. After about four calls, the dog warden showed up one morning with a huge dog trap. The pack turned out to be owned by different neighbors and after two dogs were caught and claimed at the pound, the rest of the pack dissolved.

So find out supervisors names and go up the chain of command. Some one will get the ball rolling for you. Sorry about your losses and best of luck with your chickens in the new year.