Chickens(7) Killed (no heads) w/ Carcasses Scattered in Nearby Fields

[Meg-in-MT]

http://www.wildthingsultd.org/publications/tracking-identification-guide/

Here's something that may help you. Good to have for reference in any case!

Although, first hand experience with predators and trapping is much more helpful. Maybe @ohzark will be able to tell you with the new info you've gained!

 

[Kirk Williams]

Free range while you're there, right?

No, once they're let out in the AM they are free to run, they have a couple of pine trees, an out-building, etc. to get to safety if needed. Usually one of us is here, but not all the time. When we leave we don't close them back up in the coop and run, we just leave them out. We don't supervise them during the day, our dog does watch over them when we let him out also.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

Well I'm not sure that helped us know anything for certain... although I did learn that insurance companies advertise on yard sticks ... whoda' thunk it?

According to the book I had on the shelf, these are the ranges for a side trot pattern:

Red Fox
Side Trot Stride: 14" to 22.75"

Coyote ( east )
Side Trot Stride: 20.5" to 30.5"

So it suggests an average sized fox... but of course doesn't rule out a coyote.

Now the question is, which one are you hoping it is? Or hoping it's not? If it were me, I'd actually be hoping that the camera reveals a coyote... but kind of expecting a fox.

 

[Kirk Williams]

http://www.wildthingsultd.org/publications/tracking-identification-guide/
Here's something that may help you. Good to have for reference in any case!

Thank You so much, I'll be keeping this to help me in the future.

 

[Kirk Williams]

I overlooked this on the trail cam thinking it was our dog but I measured his stride and it's about 26 inches. There are no tracks near the carcasses from my dog, only the ones mentioned previously. Does this look like something that can be identified?

 

[centrarchid]

I overlooked this on the trail cam thinking it was our dog but I measured his stride and it's about 26 inches. There are no tracks near the carcasses from my dog, only the ones mentioned previously. Does this look like something that can be identified?View attachment 1694930

I would not expect a fox to hold its tail erect. Picture quality otherwise poor.

 

[LulaBell]

I overlooked this on the trail cam thinking it was our dog but I measured his stride and it's about 26 inches. There are no tracks near the carcasses from my dog, only the ones mentioned previously. Does this look like something that can be identified?View attachment 1694930

The curve of the tail and the way it is holding it up suggests a feline. Weird

 

[roosterhavoc]

I overlooked this on the trail cam thinking it was our dog but I measured his stride and it's about 26 inches. There are no tracks near the carcasses from my dog, only the ones mentioned previously. Does this look like something that can be identified?View attachment 1694930

What kind of dog do you have? Was it out there at 7:50pm last night?

 

[LulaBell]

I overlooked this on the trail cam thinking it was our dog but I measured his stride and it's about 26 inches. There are no tracks near the carcasses from my dog, only the ones mentioned previously. Does this look like something that can be identified?View attachment 1694930

https://defenders.org/fisher/basic-facts-about-fishers

 

[CatWhisperer]

UPDATE:
Another carcass has been taken this morning. Unfortunately, My trail cam lens became snow packed, Uggghhh. But I did find some tracks that led to and from the missing carcass. I followed the incoming tracks & the outgoing tracks, they joined up in the soybean field behind my pond and went to the opposite side of the field and into the brush. Because it is still snowing I was unable to get a good print photo. Photo of tracks below. Any ideas???

View attachment 1694770

Looks like coon tracks. Fox prints are not elongated like that.