Fisher cat?

[Momma*chicken]

A 1000 fps .177 Cal pellet rifle will sent a pellet completely through (side to side) the chest of a "garden fed" wood chuck ... will also go completely through the head of skunks ...

Sounds like a mink ... WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

In upstate NY in the Adirondacks

 

[aart]

In upstate NY in the Adirondacks

You can add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!

 

[Momma*chicken]

You can add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!
View attachment 1584154

 

[Momma*chicken]

You can add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!
View attachment 1584154

Thanks, didn't know that

 

[WthrLady]

So, today for the first time I've spotted this animal that looks like a black weasel. It's about the size of a ferret. It keeps coming back and fourth to were my chickens r sun and dust bathing. Is this a fisher cat? How big r they? For reference I live in upstate NY in the Adirondacks. I have been afraid to take my eyes off my flock today because this animal keeps coming back. We have a pond that my chickens have been hanging out near. This weasel looking character keeps diving into this pond until I come out and scare him off. He is much smaller than my chickens

Mink.
Fishers are much larger than ferrets.

 

[WthrLady]

If you are allowed in your area, skip the air rifle, and get a .22LR with a magazine.

 

[123RedBeard]

Some places (towns) consider/classify "air rifles" as "firearms" ... need to check local laws ...

Some .22 rimfire guns can also take the ".22 short" which is a less powerful round then the "22 Long Rifle" (LR) which can be quieter ...
https://www.sgammo.com/catalog/rimfire-ammunition/22-short-ammo
They do make a "quiet" 22 LR like https://www.sgammo.com/product/22-l...r-cci-low-noise-quiet-ammo-0960-not-semi-auto
https://www.sgammo.com/product/22-l...less-low-noise-ammo-20-grain-bullet-not-semi-

But if noise is not a problem ... a .410 shotgun is very effective on critters that don't like to sit still ...

 

[Sue Gremlin]

I’ve lost chickens to mink.

 

[Momma*chicken]

I am going to just get an air rifle to start. From what I've read, if I get the right kind, it will definitely kill the mink. The mink isn't too shy either, so it should be easy for me to get close enough. Yesterday, when I came out, it didn't run away immediately. It just sat there staring at me

 

[Cayuga momma]

I live in western NY. We get raccoons, foxes and fischers. I use a live bait trap. Then I SSS. So far I've gotten rid of 4 raccoons in 8 months. I know they will keep coming so I just keep loading up the live bait trap.
Goodluck, I hope you can get rid of it before it hurts your chickens.