Predator question

[WhatTheDuckingDuck]

Hi guys. I lost my ducks to something. I am so angry and heartbroken. The gate pushed out and the latch twisted. I had 2 adult ducks, 4 8 week old Runners and 2 8 week old Cayugas. They were not bloody, didn’t have feathers around, just had some puncture wounds. They were all spread out all over the yard dead. It was between 7 and 9 this morning. Any ideas?

Cat...I had a stray cat break into where I was brooding. It murdered 11/14 bantams. No blood, no feathers, only scattered dead chickens. Lots of puncture wounds. We put up the trail cam and he came back to grab his dinner later that night. Trapped him and dropped him off elsewhere.

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

I respect those who don’t want to harm predators, however please consider the subject from another angle, a mother fox will fight to the death to protect her defenseless children, she has taken responsibility for them and will do so at any cost. Those birds in our coops, those cows and sheep in our fields have no natural defense, we as humans domesticated them, so it’s up to those of us who keep them to keep them safe, do it with a fortress or do it with a trap or a gun, but our livestock is not natural prey for them, it’s a free meal, I for one don’t plan to hand one out if I can avoid it.

 

[hayley3]

Just curious, are you sure you latched and shut the gate behind you the night before? Not trying to be mean, but I've left my doors open before on accident.

The latch was twisted around..so something had pulled it.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

The latch was twisted around..so something had pulled it.

Really? It just looked like how those latches are when you open the door. They have to twist to open it and if you forget to shut it, the latch sometimes stays stuck like that.

 

[Pollo Blanco]

I had to put a possum down once

My Aussie put one down once; I guess he didn't like it sharing his path.

 

[hayley3]

Really? It just looked like how those latches are when you open the door. They have to twist to open it and if you forget to shut it, the latch sometimes stays stuck like that.

This is what she said:

Hi guys. I lost my ducks to something. I am so angry and heartbroken. The gate pushed out and the latch twisted.

 

[gpresdo]

Not pushing any issue. Just saying one should look it up for their area as it likely is illegal.

Have a nice day.

I hold a very similar philosophy. I had to put a possum down once because he kept coming and getting into my coop. Man I cried when I killed him. I hate doing it and I always try so hard for it not to get to that point.

He was only going for dinner.
Next time...hopefully never...trap him and take him down the road 6-8 miles and let him go.
That is sufficient dispatch.