Please, don't shoot raccoons....

[Iowa Roo Mom]

I will never shoot another raccoon again. Here is why:
Last Thursday night I shot a raccoon- Friday night there were two.
For every one I kill, two take it's place. As if this wasn't enough....
Last night they invited a 'possum over to join the party- just to spite me.

All winter I'd set traps around the property and the neighbors land during trapping season and NOW they decide to call in the troops.










The war is on....

 

[Imp]

Your title says it all:

Resistance Is Futile

Imp- Become one with the raccoon. UUUHHHMMMM!!!!!

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Nature can't stand a void. If it finds an empty space (i.e. an area without a predator but plenty of prey), it will fill it. Somehow.

Sorry about your visitors, IRM. Do you have hardware cloth protecting your sweets-ums?

 

[fancbrd4me02]

That's why I advocate prevention. I have noticed that the people who "trap and terminate" predators are constantly losing stock and constantly killing predators. It doesn't seem to get them aywhere. I just build really sturdy pens for my birds and I never loose any. It' seems like people don't realize how much more work they are making for themselves, as well as fighting a loosing battle by trying to eradicate predators. I also don't buy the excuses about not being able to afford a sturdy pen when I can slap together a predator proof night pen out of free lumber and scrap plywood. (And I have no carpentry skills!)

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

I believe that pasturing my birds is better for their health. I have electronet (expensive!) to keep predators out more than keep chickens in. I still have potential problems from arial predators, so I need to use scare tape on top and offer lots of cover and some vigilant roosters. Sometimes the fence itself can be a predator, if a bird becomes entangled.

Predator exclusion is best, but eradication is sometimes necessary. If the coyotes figure out how to jump the fence, we will shoot them. Maybe the new coyotes won't jump the fence.

 

[redhen]

I dont believe that there is a ever a 100% predator proof chicken house and run... they WILL get you eventually too..
Good luck Roo Mom!! Keep trapping and doing what you have to do...

Just think of all the daniel boon hats you'll have!!

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
I advocate prevention, too. I try to make everything like Ft. Knox. I have pretty good carpentry skills and lots of resources for materials. We live on a certified Wildlife Habitat, and I have many years of wildlife rescue under my belt. I very rarely "loose" (sic) a bird to a predator.

But I had no choice night before last. The coop was a bit compromised by the weather, but the dang possum should never have gotten as far as the coop door anyway. That run is the only thing that would survive a hurricane here!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=308977

I think you're smugness will become humility some day. I hope it doesn't, but like I said, I had to learn the hard way that there's no 100% in predator proofing.

 

[Chickens-246]

I try not to shoot wild predators at all. Two seasons ago I shot four of them. The following winter I was overrun with jackrabbits and cottontails that ate my trees two foot up. I shot many jackrabbits that winter (no way of trapping them worked) and set them out to draw the predators back. The cottontails I live trapped and re-homed. This winter it's back to normal. Wild predators balance nature.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
I "trap and exterminate" but am not constantly losing birds to predators. I have very sturdy pens, but that does not mean I've never lost any birds to predators over the years. It does happen and you're fooling yourself if you think it can never happen to you.

 

[ranchhand]

BTW, IRM? Two things.

One, good luck in the war.

Two, never fire a big gun in a small coop if you value your hearing.