Name This Predator!!!

[CORNISH_MAN]

Quote:
Maybe the culprits are racoons. Maybe that explains why it never killed the turkey but did the duck? I figured a fox would kill a turkey.

 

[hellafarms]

I would have to agree sounds like coons.

 

[brendapa]

Eggs only, possum or skunk.

A raccoon would kill the birds also.

Brenda

 

[deerman]

Quote:
True , but not if its a large bird. coons have taken eggs only from my goose, no harm to the goose.


OP did say It did kill the setting duck. Turkey may have been to large, not that a coon couldn't kill a large bird. No reason it would fight a large bird with a meal of eggs there.

 

[Barred Rocks forever]

im swinging toward possum

 

[ivan3]

Probably coon.

Our Royal Palm Hen was mortally wounded by a coon on a daytime schedule. In addition to her predator-proofed nest, that she shared with the Slate, she was also tending a second nest in the woodline (found the nest and a few feathers, but no eggs). Placed a havahart at the location and caught nothing that night. The following afternoon (out ranging the birds and working in the garden) I heard the trap bang shut. Sure enough, raccoon. I dispatched it and opened it up; definitely the culprit, feathers in the lower GI tract.

A week or so later, while out in the woods, I found the broken egg shells, at the base of a big Hickory snag, about 100yds from the location of the nest.

I'd be out checking those sorts of locations. Might be able to shoot the vermin while it's napping up in the branches.

Good luck!

 

[CORNISH_MAN]

Quote:
What did you use for bait in the trap? Im now thinking coon also, I think a fox would have killed my turkey.

 

[ivan3]

I prefer to use a hard plastic, screw lid, container with holes punched in lid. I then soak paper towels in oil from tuna, or liquid from canned salmon. This allows the odor to waft to the coon/whatever but, once in the trap, they can't make a mess and, they get nothing to eat.

During the dog days of summer (heat decomposes the `scent packs' to quickly), I just use dry cat food. If the chooks and turks are locked down at night the vermin will, 99% of the time, go for the easy pickings and end up at my Turkey Vulture feeding station.

Good luck!

Addendum for the curious: If they are locked down at night, why trap? one might ask: Well, at this location we've had several, daytime raccoon forays (healthy and fat) a couple of opossum attempts after dawn, and many fox (the Reds are imported, invasive, ornamentals - like Snakeheads and Multifloral Rose and should be dispatched, regardless). In order to free range for a couple of hours knocking down the opposition is a given and I don't like to waste time scanning the tree line any more often than I have to.

 

[Laurajean]

I'm no expert, that's for sure, but what you described is almost identical to what happened with two of my neighbors. They found out it was a weasel, caught it in the act one night and shot it. No problems since.

 

[deerman]

I keep traps set year round with eggs (non fertile eggs from incubator). catch coons, skunks, and possums. No cats.