Midnight murders

[Kay Crowe]

Long, long story short, I found three birds this morning. One was only scattered feathers and a small section of vertebrae. Two were decapitated.
What do you think I'm setting traps for? What, in Virginia, would slip a gap in a chain link fence (we have a 3' bird netting extension on the upper fence) and be big enough to devour a 4-5lb bird and would rip off heads for fun? Would a weasel be able to get out of a larger sized cage?
I've been looking up local laws regarding trapping fox, racoon, possum and the like in town limits. Our options are limited to a trap and a barrel of water. It stinks, but I'd prefer it to a massacre of the other thirteen girls.
Thanks.

 

[junebuggena]

I'm betting it was a raccoon. They are known to tear chickens to pieces, and can fit through seemingly impossibly small gaps. If you can fit a few fingers through a gap, a raccoon will be able to get their whole arm in.

 

[hayley3]

I read once that a raccoon can eat a huge amount of food each night so I agree, raccoon.

 

[gregg3]

What part of VA are you in?

 

[dekel18042]

Long, long story short, I found three birds this morning. One was only scattered feathers and a small section of vertebrae. Two were decapitated.
What do you think I'm setting traps for? What, in Virginia, would slip a gap in a chain link fence (we have a 3' bird netting extension on the upper fence) and be big enough to devour a 4-5lb bird and would rip off heads for fun? Would a weasel be able to get out of a larger sized cage?
I've been looking up local laws regarding trapping fox, racoon, possum and the like in town limits. Our options are limited to a trap and a barrel of water. It stinks, but I'd prefer it to a massacre of the other thirteen girls.
Thanks.

I don't think a weasel would eat that much, My money is on a raccoon.

 

[Kay Crowe]

That's what I was thinking too. I've seen evidence of racoons in the yard before, handprints in the water dish and on one of my maple sap collection jugs last winter. I only asked about weasels because a friend of mine a few miles from here is having trouble with them and suggested it.
The hunt is on.

Long live the memory of Dumpling, my brave, intelligent, crowing rooster-hen. (Pictured left, kicking the crap out of my dog)