Saw a freaking BOBCAT this morning! Help with ideas?

[bheila]

Quote:
Why FREAKING? Because it scared the crap out of me. I never expected it to be a bobcat. Thought it was a raccoon. My chickens, ducks and turkeys are part of my food source and I'm not about to let another animal take part in depleting it. I do understand that wild animals have rights and that is exactly why I email the Fish and Wildlife Department.

 

[flchickenlady]

We have coyotes here in Florida so our chicken run is covered with chicken wire and the five foot fence is also buried in the ground to prevent digging under.

 

[chilling in muscadine]

I would get on that electric wire. I would have several layers maybe a foot or so apart going around. I know with my dogs it takes one time to hit the wire and they are through with the wire. Good luck

 

[mksenoj]

Agree with last post

 

[bheila]

We have tons of coyotes but we've never had problems with them. We hear them all night long. It sounds like there are 20-30 of them outside.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Quote:
Well my guess would be that it's a "freaking" bobcat because it is after her chickens and she's scared it will kill them. I have experanced a huge loss of my chickens so I would feel the same way if I seen one by my coop. Even with my electric fence up, seeing as that fence didn't work on the neighbors dog (I raised the juice it is working now).

Everyone has a right to feel the way they want towards a pred and should not be called into account for their feelings.

Me I respect your feelings I don't agree with them but I do respect them.

 

[flchickenlady]

We've never had a problem with the coyotes either, but since they're out at night when we're usually sleeping I just don't want to give them a chance to do anything to the chickens.

 

[lizardz]

Last year we lost about a 1/2 doz. chickens to, what we finally found out, was a bobcat. He was out in the middle of the day and did a grab and run while my DH & DS were out washing my car about 200 feet from where the chickens were free-ranging, so I would have to say human presence is not a deterrant. On the other hand, we have not lost any as long as they were in their run, and I must say that our run is not that strong - chicken wire, not covered, no wire buried, etc. - the chickens break out from time to time - so you can tell it's not that critter-proof. I would recommend definitely getting the hot wire going, but don't know that I would worry too much if your girls are not free ranging.
Liz

 

[bheila]

The one thing that puzzles me a little is why the bobcat was in the tree. From my count it doesn't look like he got any of my chickens. He was by a squirrel house that we made. He can't open the squirrel house though to get into it. Next to the squirrel house there is a shelf. On the shelf it looked like there was some nest material there or fur maybe. When my husband comes home I'll have him take the ladder back there and take a look. I'm hoping it's not feathers

. It's hard to count sometimes when you have so many chickens.

 

[bheila]

This is the letter that the Fish and Wildlife sent to me today. Good to know I can protect my family and animals.

You may shoot the bobcat in the act of depredation, just as long as local county/city ordinances allow the discharge of a firearm. The animal must be turned over to WDFW after it has been shot. If you would like to possess, you'll have to purchase a hunting license.


Thank you,

Enforcement Program
360-902-2936