Bobcat!! Need help.

[clhbubba]

A bobcat is wiping us out, 1 Sebastopol goose, several chickens, several Muscovies, and call ducks. We've put up a hotwire(I believe it's 4800-5000V), set a trap with raw chicken, nothing. I've even slept outside numerous nights with a gun. We've seen him twice during the afternoon on weekends, but we both work days. I've never killed an animal, don't even own a gun(though I do know how to use them), I borrowed a friends gun and wouldn't hesitate to shoot this one if I could. I would really welcome and appreciate any helpful suggestions. I'm desperate and terrified for my animals. I do not have the ability to shut all of my animals up forever. Thanks

 

[Iowa Roo Mom]

Do you have outdoor dogs/cats in the area?

 

[koifarm]

I lived for a time waaay out in the country, had rabbits, chickens, goats and a nice watchdog.
The dog died of old age but within two weeks I had lost chickens, rabbits that had feet chewed off, a goat killed, neighbor with chickens in raised wire pens had them ripped open.
I actually saw the bobcat several times but he/she was too fast to get a bead on.....got a new dog, the predation stopped dead.
I'd suggest a dog....tethered nearby...or fenced in.....

 

[clhbubba]

We recently bought a Pyrenees/Anatolian pup but he's only 12wks old so won't do much good for now. Just need to wait. But, don't know if we'll have anything left for him to guard by the time he's old enough. Frustrating and heartbreaking.

 

[mediazeal]

is he breaking into a 'secure' coop?
depending on how many you have, I would either make a fort knox coop to lock them up in at night or move them into the garage in crates for the night or some way to keep them safe while this gets figured out and your pup grows up.
Sorry for your losses!

 

[clhbubba]

He is not striking at night, he is striking during the day, and neither one of us is home during the day(the 2 times we've seen him have been on the weekends). I have no way of locking all of my animals up. At night my chickens and call ducks are locked up, but my geese and Muscovy ducks are all out with our goats and horse. I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what to bait the trap with other than raw chicken, which doesn't seem to be working for anything other than possums. We have a 5ft fence with an electric wire elevated 5 inches above that and he just hops right over it.

Iowa Roo Mom, yes we do have outside dogs and cats. But the dogs do not have access to the area that our barnyard animals are in. Our cats do roam. One of our cats has died due to the disease they can get from ticks the bobcats drop off. Our acreage is fenced, but the side he's coming in on is just solid woods so thick you cannot see or walk through.

 

[jqs birds]

Bobcat urine is the best attractant for bobcats.
Bobcats are sight hunters. Try hanging a few feathers with some fish line over your trap to draw his attention to the trap location. Hang them about 4 feet off the ground. Once you have his attention he will come over to investigate. Your raw chicken should work then.
I have trapped hundreds of bobcats with this method. Anything dangling and moving will draw them over to check it out. Then he will use his nose to find out exactly what it is. Set your bait against a tree or something so he can only get to it from one direction.Put a stick in front of your trap so he steps over the stick and into your trap. Before he can get to the bait.
There are some good illustrations of this set on a web site called trapperman.com look at basic stes for bobcats.

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

I can tell you from experience that you need to up the voltage on your fence. It took about 8000 volts to even get the attention of the one I had trouble with years ago. I never seen him again.

Do you have a top on the run. A bobcat can clear a 10' tall fence and never touch it. Curious creatures as they are, they will always snoop around the run before trying to jump it. Thats where a high powered fencer sends him running before he contemplates jumping.

Marty

 

[panner123]

Quote:
I agree with this advice on how to trap the bobcat. For more helpful information go to trapperman.com
this is a free site that trappers use. They will answer any question and give you advice that is proven and tested. The site is much like this one, only for trappers. Just tell them your problem and they will tell you how to solve it.
You might even get a reply from me on it.

 

[clhbubba]

Chook-A-Holic, unfortunately there is no way to put a cover over where they are. It's an acre fenced with 5ft horse fencing. There are sheds/stalls that I lock the chickens and call ducks into at night.

I have seen bobcat urine in some of the feed stores around here. I will try that. I will also hang some feathers over the trap as suggested. We do not have the ability right now(financially) to buy a larger charger. We just bought the one we have 2 weeks ago. I had no idea 5000v wouldn't work. My DH sure hit the ground when he grabbed it!!HAHA

Thanks for the trapper site. I'll visit and I'm sure they'll have some helpfull hints.

We keep the trap set 24/7 and I had no idea how many possums we had in the area!