Predators everywhere!

[Ruralhideaway]

I also live next to a creek and have predator issues. So my plan is to eventually electrify the perimeter . So far livestock guard dogs have been my best help, besides acute lead poisoning.Even any obnoxious loud dog will help,depending on how close you have neighbors. But you have to be careful with bringing in New dogs,as often dogs have not been trained to get along with other species. LGD's have been bred for the job for centuries so instinctive even if the dog has lived in a city and then moved out to rural location.. If you get lucky,sometimes you can find these dogs in rescues or shelters waiting for a home with more room. Do not adopt an adult LGD that has been bred for personal protection as this is wrong bloodline and no different than turning loose a hungry wolf..An adult LGD might not bond to a specific species,but will bond to you and will protect anything that the dog learns is yours. My best dogs have been GT Pyrenees.

Not by any means out of the question. I looked around a bit last night and did some reading. There's a rescue but they require a 5ft physical fence which I don't plan to install. They also say pyrs can't be contained with invisible fencing, which I could possibly install. What do you think about that?

 

[townchicks]

You mentioned barn cats. Raccoons and fox and possums will all be drawn to cat food. Do you pick up/lock up the cat food at night? That might help.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

You mentioned barn cats. Raccoons and fox and possums will all be drawn to cat food. Do you pick up/lock up the cat food at night? That might help.

I had been leaving it down at night just lately for a weaning kitten but it's getting picked up again now. Good point!

 

[jthornton]

I'm thinking about getting one but fear I'll just catch barn cats.

You will only catch them once... I've caught several cats in mine but never the same one twice.

JT

 

[Ruralhideaway]

You will only catch them once... I've caught several cats in mine but never the same one twice.

JT

Might grab a bigger trap then. Mine aren't big enough for these racoons.

 

[aart]

Might grab a bigger trap then. Mine aren't big enough for these racoons.

If you're gonna spend money on trapping coons, the dog proof traps might be a better way to go. A big coon can tear up those havaheart traps unless they are heavy duty.

 

[BirdGal]

The pair of pyr pups I got last spring came off a small acreage in top of a mountain perimeter fenced with cheap invisible fence. I questioned in depth as to how it worked. Probably worked cuz they had it in place when they brought home the dogs as young pups. They had a breeding pair and never had any stray males and claimed they could leave in trips for a couple weeks ,while having someone come in to check property,dogs never left . I need to try to contact them to see if it is still working with the dogs aging and getting bolder.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

If you're gonna spend money on trapping coons, the dog proof traps might be a better way to go. A big coon can tear up those havaheart traps unless they are heavy duty.

I'd rather zap them away overall, seems more will just show up. But if this batch won't go away might have to eradicate.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

The pair of pyr pups I got last spring came off a small acreage in top of a mountain perimeter fenced with cheap invisible fence. I questioned in depth as to how it worked. Probably worked cuz they had it in place when they brought home the dogs as young pups. They had a breeding pair and never had any stray males and claimed they could leave in trips for a couple weeks ,while having someone come in to check property,dogs never left . I need to try to contact them to see if it is still working with the dogs aging and getting bolder.

Very interesting. I guess I'll look for local breeders.

 

[BirdGal]

Also when looking for a rescue LGD, you will have best luck looking at local shelters, classified ads,that sort of place as they usually don't have as much restriction if you explain your location. But then you also can find rescues that refuse to let these dogs go back to the country because that might have to "work".Some states have an organization of all the shelters and rescues listed in one place online and they can put you on a waiting list. Just have to keep looking and put the word out of what you want.