Found body minus head and skin on neck - leave flock in?

[WindingRoad]

Excellent suggestion.

Thanks.

 

[blackandtan]

Be careful of spreading false information.

Which false information would that be? Have you ever seen the teeth and claws on a raccoon? A wild animal will fight for its life if cornered - and raccoons are particularly aggressive; I’m just saying that most domestic dogs would be in for a surprise if they catch one, guardian breed or not...they’ll learn, but can and do get hurt

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

don't be mad - I see what you are saying - fact is, though, the female by herself chased the racoon up the oak tree (see pictures earlier in thread) at 4 am one night - it woke me up and I went outside to check on her but I did not see the racoon way up there until the morning

I now leave both dogs out - pretty sure they can handle it, even though I am not unconcerned for their safety, you are right

there is just little else I can do - it is illegal to trap and release wildlife in my state and I would not know how to kill it, nor would I want to do that to a trapped animal, but I was thinking about it since I do not want to lose more of my pets before doing something drastic

flock is in lock-down for now and dogs are on patrol 24/7 for starters

the thing is, even if I let them out together later (which I have not) it is not fair to the dogs to expect 100% protection as we have a lot of terrain and visual barriers and the birds, unfortunately, do not stay together - even if I am out with them, they can go places we cannot see all the time, let alone run to when something happens and wildlife is so fast!

I will sit on this for a while - right now we have snow and the birds are in - dogs out

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

maybe these pictures are better to give the right impression - they have been play-fighting and practicing ever since they were pups - in fact they wear me out sometimes because they can get serious in a flash and I try to keep them busy and healthy and happy

I guess if they are bred to fight wolves and go into the mountains with sheep, they are utterly underemployed and bored here with the occasional racoon

 

[WindingRoad]

Which false information would that be? Have you ever seen the teeth and claws on a raccoon? A wild animal will fight for its life if cornered - and raccoons are particularly aggressive; I’m just saying that most domestic dogs would be in for a surprise if they catch one, guardian breed or not...they’ll learn, but can and do get hurt

Oh I agree with you but I got blasted for the same thing. False information so I wen looking. I read on a website about them as sheepdogs. And it said don't train them to attack. They are guardians protectors. Not attack dogs. They won't get rid of the raccoon. They don't get rid of wolves. They won't attack them because wolves hunt in packs usually more than two wolves at a time. They might run them off. That was my premise in saying they look to cute to be killing. I didn't say they wouldn't kill. Different wording all together. Just didn't want you to get blasted like I did.
My premise was kinda like they treed a raccoon. The raccoon will be back and unless they are out there 24/7 ,,,,,,, Also, if both of them are barking at the raccoon who's minding the chickens. IDK. It's sorta like having a dog in your house and someone comes busting in with a 45 Magnum. Do you think they won't shoot your dog?

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

well, we used to have racoon prints all over the deck and in the mud around the property but since the Maremmas I have seen none

this racoon is just a single brazen one, I believe

a new head ache

 

[WindingRoad]

well, we used to have racoon prints all over the deck and in the mud around the property but since the Maremmas I have seen none

this racoon is just a single brazen one, I believe

a new head ache

I used to have a big squirrel problem. Haven't seen any for a month or so. Until today and yesterday. Those raccoons with have babies soon.

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

maybe she has some now and hence the extreme interest in food - getting past two Maremmas is not small feat to attempt

 

[Kris5902]

Our boarder collies can take out raccoons (plural!) and they are less than half the size of your dogs! We have only lost chickens twice and both times when all the dogs were inside getting spoiled with cuddles from our wwoofers all night. If they can tree it, you should shoot it (make sure it’s the coon and not your cat though... true story and the cat lived to 20!) or have a neighbor shoot it for you. Once they find an easy meal they will keep coming back for more, especially with babes to feed.

That said, they can be pretty vicious. Your dogs should have the instincts to handle them though... I love wildlife too, but when they start killing your livestock then you need to draw a clear and final line. That’s Delta, our proud puppy, he will be 18 months soon, and his dad helped him out with those two. Dad, Celtie, can and will climb trees if you use the “R” word near him.

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

Thanks, Kris5902!

Well, it is nerve wrecking - because I agree with you - once successful, the wildlife learns that there is food here (our babies) so of course they will come back for more

but I am not sure how to find the racoon again and not sure I can find a neighbor to help - I will ask - they have guns, I don't

maybe our dogs will kill it, if it comes back and does not decide to give up on this diner due to the increased dog presence

I do worry about their eyes and faces and ears and legs, but the coats are so thick, I think it would have to be an African lion to get through that - the snow does not even melt on their backs - they are double coated and it's hard to reach their skin, other than on the face

I think they are careful, too, though and I have seen the female make an approach, she circles in and out and tests the critter but does put more and more pressure on them if they don't leave and I think she would bite - she ate a squirrel once (poor thing) it was dead when I saw it - she is also the one that drove the racoon onto the highest branches of the oak tree last month - I was hoping the fright would drive the racoon to hunt elsewhere but it seems that it came back or it was a different one or another critter?

I have never seen a dog kill a racoon - sorry for the critters but thanks for the picture and glad they did not kill your birds - they are so ruthless with that, killing so many at a time and eating none or very little of them - that is the most upsetting: Dori is in a trash can now, minus the head - what a waste of a beautiful little life - she could have lived another 10 years here with us