Coyotes...

[Bleenie]

A few minutes ago I went out to move the babies out of their yard pen and back into the brooder for the night. of course, as soon as i get into the yard the coyotes start screaming in the neighbors field in FRONT of us. In all the years we have lived here they've only been past our propety (that we know if of course) a handful of times. We live at the base of a big hill in the valley, we know they live behind us on our property & the other neighbors at the base. Also, a few weeks ago we caught one in the middle of the road about 1/4mile from our house, the really strange thing was that it was about 11am when we saw him.

I also saw a Raccoon running across our driveway a few days ago too. Its RARE to see one during the day out here, there's so many hiding places they stay/hang out in. we also have not had a Raccoon problem in many, many years...and when they were a "problem" it was just because they were living in the apple trees in the yard and got into the garden shed (man, that was a scary capture!!).

It seems like they're all getting desperate for food or something. It really makes me worry about our new calves & Maverick(baby goat) & of course my ducks & chickens. I also noticed in the last couple months that i have hardly seen any Rabbits. Either there's something going on or I am just crazy..it is Spring, they should be EVERYWHERE right now.

I guess I am just ranting because now i am all worried about the babies. About 10 years ago a whole bunch of our rabbits got loose...i mean a Whole Bunch. The population exploded of course. Maybe there's just too many Coyotes now and not enough bunnies to snack on? Maybe it's why they're getting more daring and travelling farther from their dens and such.... I dunno, i wish they would go back to staying by the hill and not running all over

 

[swift4me]

Get ready. My bet is that you'll be seeing ALOT more coyotes. They do very well unless some people hunt them. Residents with cats, small dogs, backyard livestock, etc. give them a better life.

If you have some acreage, you might invite someone to hunt on your property.

Pete

 

[Bleenie]

What would i do with the carcasses? I imagine a few of them could really stink things up unless the other ones ate them....


What about poisoned bait meat? Like stake it down to make sure it was eaten...not really worried if some coons/possums eat it either. no dogs get back there either.

 

[chickboss]

I'm not saying that you shouldn't hunt, or have someone else hunt them, but I don't think it is too uncommon to see them in the day time. I've seen coyotes, in areas with abundant food, several times in the day. And, if they have been on the surrounding properties then they have been on yours as well. Certianly, protect your animals, and as you know, with new babies around they certianly could be checking things out, but it could just be the odd moment. As for racoons, I've seen lots of those in the day time to. Just trying to ease your mind a bit

Today was really busy for me, I haven't forgotten about the pics...

 

[TennesseeTruly]

We know we have a major predator here. All the small prey are just about gone. We rarely see rabbits any more. Squirrels? Almost nonexistant. Chipmunks are gone too. We're not even seeing the possums and raccoons any more. And because the small prey are gone, that means one thing...our fowl are next. That's why we use security lights to come on as soon as something enters our cleared land. ALL fowl are locked up tight as a Fort Knox at night. We do have some stubborn guineas that are sleeping on the barn roof at night and decided they don't want to come in. That's their choice. If an owl gets them...well I'm sorry but you have nice safe coops available.

As soon as the lights come on, we send the dogs out. Whatever was there, takes off. So far we haven't lost anything this year...knock on wood. But you can't get complacent because that's when they'll hit!

Good luck Bleenie. Even though coyotes have their place in the food chain...their place is not on MY place!

Laurie

 

[OmaBird]

There was a big coyote at my next door neighbors house last night when I drove up to my gate. We live with a high population of coyotes (high desert). They have dens all around my house. Every bush has little hidding places that they have dug. I noticed alot of rabbits and squirels right now but poulty is a easy meal. There is a few times a year when they seem to come in my yard more often. When there is snow and when they have pups. I don't know why snow brings them in. Maybe they have less choices for food. I do notice they do not fear humans at all.

 

[L0rraine]

It's been hard for me to talk about this, but a coyote finally broke through our fence and into one of our pens the other night and got a duck and a duckling. We hear them on the other side of the fence all the time and I'm up and out checking on the pens once a month or so in the middle of the night when it sounds like they are howling in our backyard. They are always on the other side of the fence with a fresh bunny catch and so the other night when the coyotes started howling and barking up a storm, I stayed in the house, but saw that the neighbors' lights went on and it appeared that they went out and the howling stopped. The neighbors must have interrupted things because we only lost the lost the two ducks (the duckling was a two week old 'orphan' who's sibling had been killed, it appeared by a rat, ten days ago). I'm a city girl, terrified of guns, but boy the thought of getting a 22 and learning out to shoot is getting more and more appealing (except our neighbor with the big field, where the problem is, has told us she doesn't want anyone shooting anything on her property and a part of me doesn't blame her).

My husband and stepson helped me dismantle everything out by the fence line and move it all closer to the house (where I've got my Runners and Silkies). The ducks won't have as nice a 'run' during the day, but they'll be safer at night for now.

 

[katharinad]

I do like Puyallup a lot. It still has the country feel, but reality is that it is slowly being absorbed by the cities around it. Seattle is so close too. I've driven in that area a lot, because we are up there for almost a week each year. I've been coming in from all directions and the farm land has been shrinking. It is surprising that people still farm there. Suburbs and shopping areas are popping up and the coyotes are being pushed into those areas, because their natural habitat is shrinking. They adapt and can live quite well in suburbia. I've lived once in a similar town and we ended up with everything from coyotes to mountain lions and even bears coming in. All the wildlife people could do was trap and relocate. A friend of mine had a big problem when they developed open land with shrubs and trees into housing. Not only was her old neighborhood overrun with rodents, but the predators followed. People were loosing their pets to who knows what. It got so bad that the county took over and put poison and traps out everywhere. It was all over with 2 years later.
We live out in the wild open with nothing put forest land for miles to go. We currently have 3 packs of coyotes around our property. On top of that we have great horned owls living in our trees. For those that don't know the females get about 3 feet tall! Males are only half that size. Last time I counted we had 4 pairs. There is so much natural food out here that they stay that close to each other. I have to coop up my ducks at night or they will become late night snacks for the owls. Same for my quails, which free range all day. They come back at in the late afternoon to get into their aviary.
Katharina

 

[L0rraine]

I do worry about the owls as well. We have at least a few pairs of great horned owls here with babies to feed throughout the summer. There are all kinds of good 'scary' noises when my young grandsons stay and we sit around a fire at night.

My 'safe' pens are normally more effective, but my husband and stepson had 'tucked the animals in' the other night as I was home quite late after a day with my daughter and grandsons. They neglected to close the gate to the outer pen, and didn't get the duckling's enclosed run shut tight so it gave the coyotes and easier in. They felt really bad. I should have checked on everything when I got home, but they had proudly announced that everyone was "in safe and sound and I didn't need to worry" (my gut told me I should have checked, but I ignored it). I'm not sure they'll be comfortable looking after things for me for awhile after this.

 

[Red Maple Farms]

Coyote deterrent: LGD and electric poultry netting.