Bobcat strolling by.....

[My1stChickens]

I was feeding horses, and heard a commotion in the chicken run, so went to investigate. Two of my hens were on red alert, heads up, squawking and moving to the far end of their pen. The far end borders about 15' of woods, that separate the back of my property from a large pasture. This was just at dusk but there was still plenty of light to see. And there was something moving on the other side of those trees/underbrush. Just on the edge of the pasture. Moving slow and steady, and I moved closer to get a good look. It was a bobcat. It stopped and stared back at me for a minute then continued on a the same deliberate pace.

I only have six hens, and it was just the two raising all the ruckus. But instead of running for their coop, those hens were squawking and going TOWARDS the bobcat-- what is WRONG WITH THEM??? The bobcat did not seem interested, but at the same time it wasn't disturbed by my presence. As soon as the bobcat moved along, I locked them in their coop. But geez!

The pen is 2x4 no climb, covered in hardware cloth that is trenched into the ground. The gate sets on concrete pavers so nothing can dig under it. The top is covered in aviary netting, zip tied about every 12" and also zip tied to the perimeter fence.

I did catch a shot of a bobcat behind the barn on my game camera this summer. It was about 3' from the chicken pen, mid morning so chickens were out. There was no sign that the cat made any attempt to get to the hens. But there was a place on the back fenceline, that rabbits came through under the fence. A couple feet wide, and maybe 5" deep at the deepest-- not the fence to the chicken pen, but close by, and it was right about where the bobcat was in the photo. So I extended the fence into the ground and set it in concrete. No further bobcat sightings for months-- til now.

 

[Kris5902]

Be careful of any small pets not protected in your chicken edition of Fort Knox! It sounds like your hens are very well protected, and I would be most worried about any farm cats or small to mid sized dogs you or your neighbors might have... Or small children heading to school in the early morning hours. Bobcats and cougars have to be near on starving to attack an adult, but smaller things can look like tasty snacks.

ETA: sorry, my bad, a bobcat is a lynx... way smaller than the cougars I’m familiar with and was referencing! Don’t think they would go after a kid, but a cat or small dog? I wouldn’t risk it!

Stay Safe!

 

[Doc7]

Be careful of any small pets not protected in your chicken edition of Fort Knox! It sounds like your hens are very well protected, and I would be most worried about any farm cats or small to mid sized dogs you or your neighbors might have... Or small children heading to school in the early morning hours. Bobcats and cougars have to be near on starving to attack an adult, but smaller things can look like tasty snacks.

Stay Safe!

I have never ever read a story of a bobcat “snacking” or attempting to snack on a human child. I live in heavy bobcat country. I don’t think this is true. - at all.

 

[cmom]

I had a bobcat kill several birds and then come back for another kill. The second time I trapped it and permanently relocated it. I have seen another bobcat on one of my game cameras since. Here is a video of a coyote by my grow-out coop and pen. There are two pop doors in the coop and another pen on the side of the coop not visible.

 

[Kris5902]

Is it not the same as the North American Cougar? Puma concolor Couguar? Mountain lion... I thought that’s the southeastern vernacular for them.

There have been several attacks on humans in western Canada by cougars. I recall one where a child (6-9?) on horseback was mauled badly, the child was bringing in the rear of the group. the cat was later found and destroyed, it was starving and ill though. They will occasionally stalk adults as well. I grew up in cougar and black bear areas. Have also lived in grizzly territory.

Could be a different animal... in which case my bad. But I’d still be very cautious. Of any large predator.

 

[Kris5902]

I have never ever read a story of a bobcat “snacking” or attempting to snack on a human child. I live in heavy bobcat country. I don’t think this is true. - at all.

you’re right... bobcats are much smaller than the cats I was thinking of... a variety of lynx, not a cougar which which I’m familiar and know to have attacked children, my mistake!

 

[cholland]

Just a strand or two of electric fence work great. I have bobcat, fox and bears around here, to name a few of the preditors. One touch of the electric fence and they don't come back.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is it not the same as the North American Cougar? Puma concolor Couguar? Mountain lion... I thought that’s the southeastern vernacular for them.

Bobcats are a different animal. Smaller than a mountain lion (15-40 lbs compared to 90+ lbs) and has a stubby tail, and I don't think I've heard of them being aggressive to humans under normal circumstances.

We had a juvenile bobcat walking by the chicken run a few times, but it ran off each time my husband went to confront it. It stopped coming by after a few weeks, haven't seen one since.

 

[My1stChickens]

Be careful of any small pets not protected in your chicken edition of Fort Knox! It sounds like your hens are very well protected, and I would be most worried about any farm cats or small to mid sized dogs you or your neighbors might have... Or small children heading to school in the early morning hours. Bobcats and cougars have to be near on starving to attack an adult, but smaller things can look like tasty snacks.

ETA: sorry, my bad, a bobcat is a lynx... way smaller than the cougars I’m familiar with and was referencing! Don’t think they would go after a kid, but a cat or small dog? I wouldn’t risk it!

Stay Safe!

I did call the neighbors-- who have a tiny dog and young grandchildren. My own cats are indoors only and my dog is about 60#. The bobcat looked to be about knee high, but of course it was a distance and my fear factor may have made him seem larger.

I find myself nervous about the aviary netting as the weak spot in the pen. I placed a call to a friend who may be able to assist with adding electric wires midway up the fence and at the top rail. You know this really just takes all the fun out of having chickens.

 

[My1stChickens]

I had a bobcat kill several birds and then come back for another kill. The second time I trapped it and permanently relocated it. I have seen another bobcat on one of my game cameras since. Here is a video of a coyote by my grow-out coop and pen. There are two pop doors in the coop and another pen on the side of the coop not visible.

wow! it's like your birds were tempting that coyote! I could not see, did it hit the hot wire?