Decapitated and missing ducks

[Sciencekathryn]

Just spent most of my day reinforcing and closing up any possible gaps in the walls of my coop.

I don't know what did it, going to get a game camera and set it up because I'm sure the varmit will be back.
One duck was missing, the coop door was open (maybe I didn't latch it tight enough last night?). Another duck was decapitated and the head partially eaten. The third duck was alive but I rushed her to the vet as she had blood drenching her feathers. The vet called and said the back of her neck had been chewed on and all the skin around it was cut and exposing the tissue beneath-she went in to surgery to get the skin stitched back together. Vet said she made it through ok and drank a little water, but she was breathing shallow while in surgery and they are keeping her overnight as she may have internal injuries from being shaken.

None of the chickens or chicks were touched, and my fourth duck was not touched either.

I'm just venting and had to type this out to tell someone because my family is supportive but they don't understand my attachment to my birds. The game cam won't get here till tomorrow and part of me is tempted to stay up and check on the birds at intervals through the night. This is my first predator loss and I'm scared that it will come back and that I've missed something and it will get my birds.

So....yeah. A bit paranoid now.

 

[centrarchid]

Close gap, set camera trap, and be alert tonight. I would go out and try to track culprit based on a feather trail. Fox, Coyote, and Bobcat are only parties I expect to carry carcass more than 30 yards. Look under and behind things for cached carcass within 100 feet if raccoon.