2nd kill, carcass 20 feet up tree

[lazy gardener]

Guessing bobcat or lynx...not sure mountain lions are this far east,
plus too big to fit in dollhouse coop.

If you want to learn about mountain lions in the US, read this book, it's excellent:
Heart of a Lion: A Lone Cat's Walk Across America by William Stolzenberg

Aart, I have a neighbor about 2 - 3 miles away who had footage of a young mountain lion hanging around his pond 2 years ago. An other neighbor had a face to face with a mountain lion about 10 years ago. Our MDIFW states that they are not in Maine, but these 2 sightings convince me otherwise. If they acknowledge that they are here, then they have to have a "management plan" not to mention the public reaction.

 

[happyfrenchman]

The OP said it could also be a Fisher which I believe would fit this MO. I have never known a racoon to bother and they would have killed both chickens the first night. Do cats bust up coops. Fishers might.

 

[aart]

Aart, I have a neighbor about 2 - 3 miles away who had footage of a young mountain lion hanging around his pond 2 years ago. An other neighbor had a face to face with a mountain lion about 10 years ago. Our MDIFW states that they are not in Maine, but these 2 sightings convince me otherwise. If they acknowledge that they are here, then they have to have a "management plan" not to mention the public reaction.

I and others saw one here about 5-6 years ago too.
Doesn't mean there is a viable population.
Young males have been documented to range far.
Check out that book.

 

[BreanneRN]

Well, you never know... Have you talked to all your neighbors within a few miles? It's possible that your place isn't the only place this critter has been hitting, and someone else got him... By now aiming up the tree may only catch scavengers... I think cats like to eat fresh... The tree is the access point, but the critter may just go into the coop instead of going all the way up the tree to the now spoiled leftovers... Maybe aim a little lower down?

 

[drumstick diva]

Can you surround your coop/run with electrified fencing that will provide a good wallop?
I think that might diminish their attention.

 

[Flamens Farm]

Birds of prey (owls, chicken Hawks) will take animals up into a tree to eat, most others will eat it on the ground. Large undomesticated cats will sometimes take animals up a tree to eat also. Fisher cats are mean ugly animals that not only will kill and eat your chickens but they love domesticated cats as well. If the neighborhood is missing cats as well then I would be on the lookout for fisher cats.

 

[Cod]

No answers so far. The neighbor sprayed a good bit of predator pee. I had the trail cam and he had traps. Nothing yet.

He did move the run to exclude the tree. Nothing has hit since then.