Hi everyone!
The story starts on Wednesday. The favorite Muscovy of the family Duke disappeared. I know she (yes Duke was a girl) was taken while free ranging sometime between 9 and 1. Only thing left was a few feathers scattered in the front yard. First thought is hawk, I have had hawks take chickens before but there was a lot more feathers then. Because of the attack I decided to keep the ducks all penned up for a while.
Saturday morning went out to the duck pen and my second favorite Muscovy Shilo was gone. Just gone. Door slightly ajar and just a few feathers. There was a feather trail to fallow about 30ft then it disappeared. Shilo was a large drake about 8 or 9lbs and without any blood I knew the predator had to be something larger and more skilled than a raccoon or possum. I made sure that the pen was shut up tight.
Saturday morning woke up about 7 and layed in bed. My hubby, half asleep, looked out the bedroom window and said "Ducks are out." There they where by the front deck. For the people who know Muscovies they get so excited to see you wagging their tails. Not this time they just looked up at me. I even asked them what was wrong. Then movement in the front yard caught my eye. I see something running twords the bushes. First glance thought it was our cat Max. It was no Max it was a bobcat, a freggin bobcat just running across the yard. It looks like it was headed up too the ducks, heard me talking to them, then ran off. Never seeing a bobcat out of a zoo I ran to tell hubby who was still in bed. I then decided to get dressed to head outside. Looking out the window and I see the ducks who have not left that spot by the way, start moving sideways and very nervous.
Its back! this time the bobcat is by the chicken pen trying to get in. Told my hubby who is still in bed that its by my chickens. He asks me groggily "want me to shoot it?" I said yes because I have heard horror stories on what bobcats can do to a flock. And by this time its almost 9 and its still out trying to get my birds. It also didn't seem that afraid of people. Even though it had seen us there it was still trying to get to the chickens. Well Cameron quickly dispatched the animal. Was a male, very large, and healthy looking. Funny thing is after inspecting the cat we walked passed the Muscovies. They where so happy! Started chattering and wagging their tails. I think they knew we took out the bad putty cat.
Well all is well here. Chickens are oblivious about the danger they where in. The ducks however have stopped roosting in the duck house and the past two night slept on the roof of our house. Cant really blame them.
As for the bobcat he is in our freezer. Going to take it in and get the pelt cured. And don't worry my hubby has a small game permit and bobcat season started here on the 1st...
One more thing to add. The night before we got the bobcat is the last time we saw my 6 year old daughters little kitty Kilala. Its not like Kilala to be away this long. I know that bobcats will take small cats and dogs as well. Hopeful Kilala will come back, but still...
Thanks for reading!
The story starts on Wednesday. The favorite Muscovy of the family Duke disappeared. I know she (yes Duke was a girl) was taken while free ranging sometime between 9 and 1. Only thing left was a few feathers scattered in the front yard. First thought is hawk, I have had hawks take chickens before but there was a lot more feathers then. Because of the attack I decided to keep the ducks all penned up for a while.
Saturday morning went out to the duck pen and my second favorite Muscovy Shilo was gone. Just gone. Door slightly ajar and just a few feathers. There was a feather trail to fallow about 30ft then it disappeared. Shilo was a large drake about 8 or 9lbs and without any blood I knew the predator had to be something larger and more skilled than a raccoon or possum. I made sure that the pen was shut up tight.
Saturday morning woke up about 7 and layed in bed. My hubby, half asleep, looked out the bedroom window and said "Ducks are out." There they where by the front deck. For the people who know Muscovies they get so excited to see you wagging their tails. Not this time they just looked up at me. I even asked them what was wrong. Then movement in the front yard caught my eye. I see something running twords the bushes. First glance thought it was our cat Max. It was no Max it was a bobcat, a freggin bobcat just running across the yard. It looks like it was headed up too the ducks, heard me talking to them, then ran off. Never seeing a bobcat out of a zoo I ran to tell hubby who was still in bed. I then decided to get dressed to head outside. Looking out the window and I see the ducks who have not left that spot by the way, start moving sideways and very nervous.
Its back! this time the bobcat is by the chicken pen trying to get in. Told my hubby who is still in bed that its by my chickens. He asks me groggily "want me to shoot it?" I said yes because I have heard horror stories on what bobcats can do to a flock. And by this time its almost 9 and its still out trying to get my birds. It also didn't seem that afraid of people. Even though it had seen us there it was still trying to get to the chickens. Well Cameron quickly dispatched the animal. Was a male, very large, and healthy looking. Funny thing is after inspecting the cat we walked passed the Muscovies. They where so happy! Started chattering and wagging their tails. I think they knew we took out the bad putty cat.
Well all is well here. Chickens are oblivious about the danger they where in. The ducks however have stopped roosting in the duck house and the past two night slept on the roof of our house. Cant really blame them.
As for the bobcat he is in our freezer. Going to take it in and get the pelt cured. And don't worry my hubby has a small game permit and bobcat season started here on the 1st...
One more thing to add. The night before we got the bobcat is the last time we saw my 6 year old daughters little kitty Kilala. Its not like Kilala to be away this long. I know that bobcats will take small cats and dogs as well. Hopeful Kilala will come back, but still...
Thanks for reading!
