Our bobcat has babies

[SunnyDayz]

Earlier this week a bobcat grabbed a chicken out of our front yard while my husband was right there. I thought it was a little strange, being it was daytime and so close to the house (within 10 feet maybe?). This afternoon I was out back and heard the strangest sound. We are completely surrounded by woods and I could hear (loud as day) kittens crying... maybe 2, more than one. I couldn't see them but I wasn't going into the woods to check either, lol. I have never seen a feral cat near here, but I have seen the bobcat. She was also seen nearby last year with 2 kittens around this same time. I read that they have babies this time of year, every year...

So I am fairly certain these are bobcat kittens. I'm sure they are cute and adorable, but why so close to our home??
Ugh. I'm going to cal FL Fish and Wildlife tomorrow to see what they say.

 

[PitterPaws]

Maybe easy chicken dinner to feed to young wont have to travel far

Sorry to hear about your Chicken.

 

[babyblue]

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I agree. momma is tired and hungry and the less work for her the better. its unlikely shes going to move on on her own if there is such easy food nearby. imo I would lock the chickens up good until she gets the idea that easy food is right there.

 

[koop]

This won't help you, but my wife's grandparents had a female fox once build its den right under the chicken coop on their farm, the fox was smart though, it never even touched one of their chickens, it went to the neighbors

Grandpa could never shoot something so smart

 

[PitterPaws]

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Smart Fox!!

 

[Yardbirds286]

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Aww... I bet your Grandpa was a cool guy.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

are you allowed to shoot around your place? if so, I would buy lots of ammuniton and just start shooting lots every hour or so and keep the cat at bay...also set up some traps near the hen house and bait it real good with something smelly...sardines, tuna, beef bones from the grocery store..etc...

 

[SunnyDayz]

D'Angelo N Va. :

are you allowed to shoot around your place? if so, I would buy lots of ammuniton and just start shooting lots every hour or so and keep the cat at bay...also set up some traps near the hen house and bait it real good with something smelly...sardines, tuna, beef bones from the grocery store..etc...

We are not allowed to discharge a firearm within city limits... Dh mentioned using blanks to scare it though. I think we can do that lol.
I do not want to trap it. It has babies and it was here well before we came along. I know others have ideas about predators (if it were racoons I might feel differently for some reason). But I can't kill this animal.... especially knowing it has babies that would die if I did. When her kittens are older she will kick them out of her range, so we will be dealing with this same single cat for a long time to come.

We won't be allowing the birds to free range any more. We are expanding their run area to give them a lot more room.​