Converting Predator Carcasses into Chick Feed

[Mrs. K]

feet or yards?

Goodness, do you have coyotes?

 

[centrarchid]

feet or yards?

Goodness, do you have coyotes?

Feet.

We have Coyotes, but they do not seem keen on carcasses that are rotting. Live prey is pretty easy to catch in these parts. Dogs though largely keep Coyotes and Red Foxes from doing any real serious hunting as we have more rabbits than I ever recall seeing even as a kid when we could bag our limit in less than an hour.

 

[Mrs. K]

I find the smell nauseating, I don't think I would be fond of this project that close to the house. Of course it is a smaller animal, a cow or horse truly is horrific. Even so, kudos to your wife and family.

Coyotes are very aggressive here, and not at all picky what they eat. But they come and go, sometimes quite active even close to the barns, sometimes much farther away, but they would be in for a free meal. We seldom hunt them unless they get too thick, as they do get things cleaned up quickly, and in the spring they make for good mamma cows. No going off and leaving your calf.

It will be interesting to read this report as it goes on, I wonder if you will not discover some other interesting reactions in the wildlife, not just the carrion beetle.

 

[SueT]

Oh man this picture just kills me.

That raccoon looks so scared, and I can’t imagine having it trapped in a small space and then shooting it. I can only hope it had a quick and painless death.

I know I’m a big baby when it comes to this stuff, but that picture just broke my heart.

trap and relocate the predator.

I just wanted to say, yes it died within seconds, and I would not enjoy tormenting a predator just because it killed my chickens. I think a quick death is preferable to relocation. Firstly, relocating raccoons is illegal in many states. Secondly, I feel it would be unethical to send a nuisance animal that has come to depend on human food sources to someone else’s area. And lastly, how far would you really have to go?I have read that raccoons are smarter than cats or dogs who we know can return from great distances, hundreds of miles even. A friend said her co-worker relocated a raccoon that had been tipping over trash cans. They read that 5-10 miles was sufficient. So they took it ten miles, but before they released it, they sprayed a spot of yellow paint on the back of its neck. She said in 10 days, Yellow Spot had returned and was tipping over trash again. She didn’t know what they did next. Anyway, I think a raccoon will try to return, or die trying.

 

[centrarchid]

I just wanted to say, yes it died within seconds, and I would not enjoy tormenting a predator just because it killed my chickens. I think a quick death is preferable to relocation. Firstly, relocating raccoons is illegal in many states. Secondly, I feel it would be unethical to send a nuisance animal that has come to depend on human food sources to someone else’s area. And lastly, how far would you really have to go?I have read that raccoons are smarter than cats or dogs who we know can return from great distances, hundreds of miles even. A friend said her co-worker relocated a raccoon that had been tipping over trash cans. They read that 5-10 miles was sufficient. So they took it ten miles, but before they released it, they sprayed a spot of yellow paint on the back of its neck. She said in 10 days, Yellow Spot had returned and was tipping over trash again. She didn’t know what they did next. Anyway, I think a raccoon will try to return, or die trying.

It does not appear to be illegal in Missouri unless source or release are public lands.

Check the Missouri wild life code linked below.

https://mdc.mo.gov/wildlife/nuisanc...ce-native-species/wildlife-control-guidelines
Pay particular attention to

DISPOSING OF TRAPPED PROBLEM WILDLIFE HUMANELY
Relocation not recommended

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

I just wanted to say, yes it died within seconds, and I would not enjoy tormenting a predator just because it killed my chickens. I think a quick death is preferable to relocation. Firstly, relocating raccoons is illegal in many states. Secondly, I feel it would be unethical to send a nuisance animal that has come to depend on human food sources to someone else’s area. And lastly, how far would you really have to go?I have read that raccoons are smarter than cats or dogs who we know can return from great distances, hundreds of miles even. A friend said her co-worker relocated a raccoon that had been tipping over trash cans. They read that 5-10 miles was sufficient. So they took it ten miles, but before they released it, they sprayed a spot of yellow paint on the back of its neck. She said in 10 days, Yellow Spot had returned and was tipping over trash again. She didn’t know what they did next. Anyway, I think a raccoon will try to return, or die trying.

I completely understand.

I definitely thinks it comes down to the persons morals when deciding whether to relocate or kill it.

I personally could never kill something unless it’s suffering because of my personal beliefs but I do understand where other people who do are coming from.

 

[SueT]

It does not appear to be illegal in Missouri unless source or release are public lands.

Check the Missouri wild life code linked below.

https://mdc.mo.gov/wildlife/nuisanc...ce-native-species/wildlife-control-guidelines
Pay particular attention to

DISPOSING OF TRAPPED PROBLEM WILDLIFE HUMANELY
Relocation not recommended

Those are good reasons, and maybe most important is that raccoons are a rabies vector. Yeah, I had checked, I know it is legal in MO to release them, but not in NY, for example. But here, where in the heck to go? There isn't anywhere in our part of the state that is far from human habitation, and in our county, there are at least 2 or 3 houses per section. Maybe someone from town would think our area was remote; you could drive across the back of our section for a mile and not see a house at all, but you'd be within a mile of 8 different farms. And none of us want someone's nuisance animal released here. We'd have to kill it for them. Which may be what happened.

 

[centrarchid]

Those are good reasons, and maybe most important is that raccoons are a rabies vector. Yeah, I had checked, I know it is legal in MO to release them, but not in NY, for example. But here, where in the heck to go? There isn't anywhere in our part of the state that is far from human habitation, and in our county, there are at least 2 or 3 houses per section. Maybe someone from town would think our area was remote; you could drive across the back of our section for a mile and not see a house at all, but you'd be within a mile of 8 different farms. And none of us want someone's nuisance animal released here. We'd have to kill it for them. Which may be what happened.

I limited scope checked to Missouri as that is where it is relevant.

 

[aart]

I personally could never kill something unless it’s suffering because of my personal beliefs but I do understand where other people who do are coming from.

Then stay off threads that talk about killing predators....or at least do not comment on them.
Because.....

Discussion of alternatives better elsewhere.

Just gotta say....It's a damnshame that this thread about a very interesting experiment(to some) has been derailed into discussions of "morals" and arguments about firepower. SMH.

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

Then stay off threads that talk about killing predators....or at least do not comment on them.
Because.....




Just gotta say....It's a damnshame that this thread about a very interesting experiment(to some) has been derailed into discussions of "morals" and arguments about firepower. SMH.

I was just as curious about this experiment as anyone else on this thread. I did not even plan to say anything I just wanted to see the outcome. However when I saw that picture it really upset me.

Again I didn’t even plan to discuss it but other people replied to me so I simply replied back.

I’m apologize that you felt that I derailed the thread. I only said a few things, and that was not my intent.

I’m following this thread because I’m genuinely interested in this particular experiment.

And as for “staying off threads that talk about killing predators”, I was not even aware that this thread would actually talk about killing the predator. I assumed it would just talk about the actual experiment.