Bobcat strolling by.....

[HomesteaderWife]

Personal recommendation would be to buy yourself a state trapper's license and set a foot trap for it....unless you already have a hunting license. Check your regulations and requirements thoroughly if it's something you consider. This is just me though.


https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/...aring-animal-regulations/license-requirements

https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/...bearing-animal-regulations/seasons-bag-limits

 

[Kris5902]

Oh, and thanks for the link! I was confusing the details of the 1992 and 1996 attacks in BC... hey I was 10, then 14 at the times, they stuck with me because they were big local news, but things that far back are a little blurry in the details now. Also there were plenty of cougar warnings, sightings and animal attacks around then. They were fairly frequent in Lynn valley, north Vancouver, and the district of north Vancouver as I was growing up. Haven’t heard of many lately though, but I also haven’t followed the news much for the past decade or so.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

My Granddaddy told me about being stalked by a cougar late at night while he was coming home from 'sparking' my grandmother. Fortunately for my future DNA the combination of the horse, wagon, and granddad was off putting for the lion and he melted back into the Sand Mountain forest.

 

[Doc7]

Folks,

Nobody in this thread has debated the nature of cougar-human interactions.

Bobcats aka “lynx” are not cougars, as another individual has pointed out several times.

 

[aart]

But instead of running for their coop, those hens were squawking and going TOWARDS the bobcat-- what is WRONG WITH THEM???

They don't know it's a threat.
Just like this, most ran away when fox bounced off run mesh....but these few watched him walk away.

 

[Kris5902]

They don't know it's a threat.
Just like this, most ran away when fox bounced off run mesh....but these few watched him walk away.
View attachment 1627937

Well, either they are very smart chickens and know how well they are protected by their run... or they are dumb ones trying to participate in the natural selection process! “Hey Lucy! Did you see how that weird looking dog with the bushy tail just bounced of our fence? What an idiot!!! (Insert chicken laughing noises here)”

 

[My1stChickens]

I've inspected the pen with new eyes (the same eyes that saw this big bobcat starting insolently at me). I am satisfied that the fence is secure, since it's 2x4" wire covered with hardware cloth. I am satisfied that nothing can dig under, since the hardware cloth is trenched into the ground and set in concrete, except at the gate, where the gate rests on concrete pavers. The back fenceline that borders the woods/underbrush does not have a top rail, so something would have to jump onto the top of the wire fence.... from a crowded launch point in the brush. The two long sides have a 2x4 wooden top rail, so something could jump up onto it, or clear over it-- into the aviary netting. I think the aviary netting would hold for something 20# but not 50# and I am purely guessing on that. I'm not sure how to test that theory other than throw things over the fence and see what happens LOL. But I'm reasonably satisfied with security of the pen.

That said, I did see cat footprints in the tack room of my barn this morning. I really thing it's the housecat that has been sighted in the neighborhood. But if it's a bobcat I think it's a much smaller one that the one I saw. Sure got my adrenaline going though!

If I can find a great price on stronger netting for the top, I will add another layer of netting. It's not a great time to invest another 300-500 in the chickens right now, so I will have to shop it.

I did check on those links for trapping/hunting licenses. From what I can tell you only need them if you are trapping/hunting with intent to sell the fur. I would not be selling fur, just protecting my chickens.

 

[Doc7]

I've inspected the pen with new eyes (the same eyes that saw this big bobcat starting insolently at me). I am satisfied that the fence is secure, since it's 2x4" wire covered with hardware cloth. I am satisfied that nothing can dig under, since the hardware cloth is trenched into the ground and set in concrete, except at the gate, where the gate rests on concrete pavers. The back fenceline that borders the woods/underbrush does not have a top rail, so something would have to jump onto the top of the wire fence.... from a crowded launch point in the brush. The two long sides have a 2x4 wooden top rail, so something could jump up onto it, or clear over it-- into the aviary netting. I think the aviary netting would hold for something 20# but not 50# and I am purely guessing on that. I'm not sure how to test that theory other than throw things over the fence and see what happens LOL. But I'm reasonably satisfied with security of the pen.

That said, I did see cat footprints in the tack room of my barn this morning. I really thing it's the housecat that has been sighted in the neighborhood. But if it's a bobcat I think it's a much smaller one that the one I saw. Sure got my adrenaline going though!

If I can find a great price on stronger netting for the top, I will add another layer of netting. It's not a great time to invest another 300-500 in the chickens right now, so I will have to shop it.

I did check on those links for trapping/hunting licenses. From what I can tell you only need them if you are trapping/hunting with intent to sell the fur. I would not be selling fur, just protecting my chickens.

A hunting license is still required:
“Required to take fur-bearing animals or their pelts during the recreational season. ”
From the first link