Help - WHAT am I dealing with?

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

I second the trail cam -- I just got one, not a fancy one. Actually the cheapest they had. So, last night it took this pic:
View attachment 2934477
That's a possum trying to get in at my house.
The other option could be a trap of some kind but not knowing what you're trapping makes it hard to use the right trap, but if you have a trap it's worth a try.

How expensive are they? They just take pic whenever something moves?

 

[Peas4Ducks]

Yep, you just set it up facing your coop. Here's a list of good ones under $50.

 

[alwaystj9]

I got mine at the feed store for $59. I got the kind that sends pix to an SD card. It can take single pictures, set of 3 pictures or short videos. All are motion activated. It was easier than I thought it would be. I had the wrong SD card but I called the Stealth cam company and they told me quickly what my problem was, really great customer service.

Browtine 16MP​

SKU: STC-BT16
The durable Browtine 16MP trail camera features an 80ft infra-red detection range and burst mode to capture detailed information about your target area.

 

[cmom]

This may be a decent camera and is very inexpensive (29.99) and has Free Return if the buyer is not happy with it. I have bough a few cameras that were duds and have returned them. My favorite cameras is unavailable right now. Most of my cameras I have paid under $50. for them. Good luck...
https://www.amazon.com/Detection-Ac...1080P+Trail+Game+Camera&qid=1640031032&sr=8-7

 

[The Duck Dad]

Oh I have no idea.

if you are in Tennessee, you'll have bobcats

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

if you are in Tennessee, you'll have bobcats

I am...wouldn't they have made more damage than that and gotten inside?
Or atleast come back?

 

[The Duck Dad]

I am...wouldn't they have made more damage than that and gotten inside?
Or atleast come back?

if it was a bobcat, it is gone by now. They are traveling animals and never stay in one place. and, yes. it probably would've made more damage. Bobcats love birds though...

 

[Ridgerunner]

That was a larger animal, a rat will not spread damage over that large an area. Where you are you can have bobcat, fox, coyote, dog, possum, skunk, and raccoons to mention a few. That could have been any of them.

If I remember right from your other thread that door only opens out and you have a stop behind that door to keep the critter from pushing it in. The critter tried and quickly gave up.

Two ways to identify the critter are footprints or scat (poop). I know it's been a bit but if you could find some poop and take a photo we might be able to help identify it. By now you are not going to find identifiable paw prints but you can prepare for the next time if it comes back. Raking the ground smooth under the door may be enough, but if you scatter some flour that can really help. Maybe even put a flat board down there with a dusting of flour. At least you'd now what you are dealing with if it comes back.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

That was a larger animal, a rat will not spread damage over that large an area. Where you are you can have bobcat, fox, coyote, dog, possum, skunk, and raccoons to mention a few. That could have been any of them.

If I remember right from your other thread that door only opens out and you have a stop behind that door to keep the critter from pushing it in. The critter tried and quickly gave up.

Two ways to identify the critter are footprints or scat (poop). I know it's been a bit but if you could find some poop and take a photo we might be able to help identify it. By now you are not going to find identifiable paw prints but you can prepare for the next time if it comes back. Raking the ground smooth under the door may be enough, but if you scatter some flour that can really help. Maybe even put a flat board down there with a dusting of flour. At least you'd now what you are dealing with if it comes back.

Yeah I had already messed up the ground area underneath there by stepping to open door before I realized what had happened...I did search for scat and found none.
Must have been in a hurry!

 

[ColtHandorf]

Yep, you just set it up facing your coop. Here's a list of good ones under $50.

That was very helpful! I've been wanting to get some more game cameras and now I know where to start looking.

if it was a bobcat, it is gone by now. They are traveling animals and never stay in one place. and, yes. it probably would've made more damage. Bobcats love birds though...

Tell that to the 30+ birds I lost over a six-month period to a bobcat. She stayed real close. And didn't wander at all. Granted she had kittens, but females have smaller home ranges than males and while they do move about within the home range, if your house/property is in that range they will absolutely frequent it. Especially if they find something to eat.