Bobcat Tried My Chicken Run

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

This bobcat has a den a mile or less from me. I scared off this bobcat 30 minutes prior to this today and it just tried my chicken run (ran around it in a circle, tried digging briefly before it hit our wire skirt). No chickens were harmed, they just left a whole chicken's worth of feathers everywhere in a panic as their defense mechanism. I have music blasting. I have electrical wire that wasn't on at that moment because I was doing yard work near the wire. As this cat becomes more audacious, what can I do? Previously, it wouldn't even come close with music on. This time, it tried when it knew I was there. The thing is too fast and there is too much shrubbery (and their coop) to shoot it. My girls are sounding the alarm still, it's been 30 minutes and I've been standing right outside their enclosure. The girls still think something is out there. I'm worried it isn't scared anymore.

Professional trappers are $600, more than I'd like to spend.

My last option is getting a trapping license, as I have a live trap for dogs already.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Have you spoken to the division of wildlife for your area? They may have suggestions or can come remove this overly bold cat before it gets ahold of someone's kid.

 

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

Have you spoken to the division of wildlife for your area? They may have suggestions or can come remove this overly bold cat before it gets ahold of someone's kid.

I have already, but my backyard is an extensive forest reserve. They don't move bobcats but they will remove Canada lynx and anything bigger than that. There is no way to get the bobcat removed without killing it, unfortunately. Law states you have to kill it after trapping. Unless it outright attacks me, wildlife services will not remove the bobcat. My biggest concern is that it actually might attack me while I try to scare it off. This bobcat has been here for four years and hasn't endangered a human yet. If this cat isn't scared of noise anymore, I do not know how to ward it off further. Additionally, because of my house bordering a forest reserve, I cannot do anything about trees and shrubbery without approval that it is hazardous, even though it is on my property. It is to mention that I've been 6 or 7 feet away from the bobcat multiple times due to these encounters.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Can you carry a gun with blanks to scare it off with?
Not sure if you have neighbors close enough to hear if say you had to yell/scream for help.

 

[OnlySympathy]

If you can find a used paintball gun that would probably work pretty well. Not strong enough to do any actual damage but should be strong enough to give it a big scare.

 

[NanaK]

Previously, it wouldn't even come close with music on.

This cat is used to the sounds and movements coming from your property. They get comfortable with routines.
He feels safe moving in closer.

Try changing the music to a station with "talk radio". Human voices talking most of the time. Very different from music.
Make sure the hot wire is on.

My biggest concern is that it actually might attack me while I try to scare it off.

I do not want to feel threatened by an animal on my property.
If I truely felt this way I would probably set a trap.

Law states you have to kill it after trapping.

Which means you need a humane way to dispatch.

 

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

If you can find a used paintball gun that would probably work pretty well. Not strong enough to do any actual damage but should be strong enough to give it a big scare.

I do have slingshots and a compound bow. I have thrown rocks and hand shovels at the cat before trying to scare it. The issue with any projectile is it is such a small space with a lot of places to hide or flee to. Additionally, aiming takes too much time, and hitting someone hiking in the reserve would be possible, but unlikely.

 

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

This cat is used to the sounds and movements coming from your property. They get comfortable with routines.
He feels safe moving in closer.

Try changing the music to a station with "talk radio". Human voices talking most of the time. Very different from music.
Make sure the hot wire is on.

I do not want to feel threatened by an animal on my property.
If I truely felt this way I would probably set a trap.

Which means you need a humane way to dispatch.

I do have humane ways to dispatch. I am also allowed to, with the trapping license, to call the wildlife services to take the cat away and dispatch for me after trapping it myself. Getting a trapping license would be the challenge and take time. I still need a license to trap a bobcat, even on my property. Music is usually rave music, rock, pop, etc. It's usually never calm. It is definitely used to us. I was in sight when it tried the second time yesterday. It wasn't startled by me, just backed away slowly when I was screaming at it. I really don't want to kill it because I've had my other beloved chickens end up being food for it. I like to think it went to a good cause, but now this cat is endangering more of my chickens, and possibly me.