Now here's a new predator!

[PeaChick C]

All these years, living in rural Iowa, we have been pest-proofing our coop to keep out raccoons, possums, fox, mink, coyote, rats, weasels, neighbors' dogs. We've worried about hawks, owls, bald eagles, falcons... We've even dealt with a snake or two. We have trained our dog, a blue healer/Aussie shepherd mix to diligently stand guard and chase off or fight all of these predators.

But now we have a new concern. A cougar has been spotted in our area. A big ol' mountain lion. Now what? Would my dog chase off a mountain lion? Or would she be his lunch? A person had their little dog disappear. But our dog is bigger and sounds tough when defending her house and her birds. What about the out buildings? Will mountain lions try to claw their way into a coop? I don't think this thing is gonna fit into one of our live traps! ;-)

Anyone ever dealt with a big cat before?

 

[Biologrady]

I would hope that the scent of your dog might scare the cat off...beyond that I'm not sure what you can do. I was about 30 yards from a mule deer that got pounced on by a big cat (on a trail in Yosemite). Scariest sound ever! Would have loved to see it, but they tumbled downslope into some brush.

 

[Scott H]

Cougars can easily kill a dog and run off with it. Generally stay away from people, houses and dogs though. Although our neighbors had one kill a coon that was eating cat food on their front porch once. They said there was coon poo in a 360 arc when the cougar gave it a shake...

 

[ocap]

the cougar has been spotted in New Jersey (High Point) and we had a cougar hit by a car about five miles north of Kansas City (dense population area) theory is they are coming down the Missouri River Valley from the western states.
I know they are near my place 30 miles north of Kansas City but I think that they will go to the easier food first, any type wire will help make my birds just a little harder than the neighbors barking dog or the wild rabbit/squirrel.

 

[centrarchid]

First I doubt cougar will stay long-term in pursuit of chickens. If it does have a legitimate reason to stay which is unlikely since no mates around, then dealing with it is in the multiple (two or more) dog realm.

 

[Maligator]

Depends on the cat. I live in a high population cougar area. Though my livestock has never been hit, my neighbor has. Right in her front pasture, very close to the house in front of a spotlight. She has 4 dogs. She also has a bunch of horses, cows, and other critters. It took down a ewe and came back for it the next day. They called F&G to come track it with a dog who treed it and shot it. :| Sad. It probably would have come back each night for an easy meal of her smaller livestock before heading off again.

 

[loveckicks]

A cougar can have up to a one hundred mile hunting radius .he or she will hunt an area until that food source is gone and in a heavy populated area it can be a major problem your dog is by no means a match for a cougar by him self . we have a half pit half lab the gaurds our coop and even at 100lbs he wouldnt win with out paying a severe price im afraid. Your best bet would be to shoot the cat if possible and eliminate the threat of loosing animals to the it including your loyal family friend or even a child out playing maybe .

 

[shmccarthy]

I've seen horses that have been taken down by a single cougar. Your dog may try and chase it off if the cougar does pay a visit, but it probably wouldn't be a match for the big cat if it came down to it. I have family that lives in the mountains in Colorado, they see cougars almost daily. They carry guns on them for protection.
A cougar is very similar to an African lion. If they get a whiff of prey, even a human, they will hunt it. The cougar may have bigger fish to fry than chickens, but I would be worried about the dog.

 

[centrarchid]

I've seen horses that have been taken down by a single cougar. Your dog may try and chase it off if the cougar does pay a visit, but it probably wouldn't be a match for the big cat if it came down to it. I have family that lives in the mountains in Colorado, they see cougars almost daily. They carry guns on them for protection.
A cougar is very similar to an African lion. If they get a whiff of prey, even a human, they will hunt it. The cougar may have bigger fish to fry than chickens, but I would be worried about the dog.

Oh now! Cougar much smaller than lion although they can take down singly an adult horse they will not do it as a preferred method to getting eats; too much risk. Multiple dogs, not one should be used. Always adapt pest management to pest at hand. Cougar will treat pack of guardians like a pack of wolves and get away. You are romanticizing the cougar.

 

[shmccarthy]

I wasn't comparing the cougar to the lion size wise, more as behoviorial wise.