Something wicked this way comes....Gotcha' on camera!

[The Sheriff]

I store my feed and scratch in these containers. They have round, screw-on lids that must be turned several times to remove them. The rubbermaid container is empty but is usually full of shavings.

They are kept just outside the garage door, next to the woodpile. (Excuse the mess. DH is hooking electricity to the spa.)

I went out this morning to fill a feeder and found the container on the right laying on the ground, the lid was off and feed was spilled everywhere.

I picked it up and put the lid back on and noticed bite or claw marks around the edge of the lid.

I always put the lid back on and tighten it, and hubby never feeds the chickens so I know the lid was not left off. What am I dealing with? We live at about 1800 ft elevation just above Auburn, CA. Raccoons? Bears? I guess that is silly, a bear would have just ripped the lid off. I am going to move the containers inside the garage permanently but I am going to leave them outside tonight. I will set up my game camera and try to find out what wicked thing lurks on my back porch.

Thanks for looking!

 

[speckledhen]

A bear would have turned them over, I'd think. Raccoons are great with their hands/paws and if I don't rub garlic on my plastic garbage can on the deck, squirrels chew through the top.

 

[kristim23]

Wow, those containers look like they are super duty! Where did you get them? I would bet that you get some pics on your game cam, whatever it was will probably be back! I am thinking coons, too.

 

[The Sheriff]

Quote:
Most large chain let stores like Petco and PetSmart carry them. They come in two different sizes these being the largest. It holds about 75 pounds of feed. The plastic is very thick and the lids screw on and you need to be able to get your fingers into the tops to turn them. Sometimes they are too tight for me to open so I don't know how something else opened them.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

WOW, I know exactly what containers you have..I got mine from Pet Smart for my dog's food in the house. I would have never guess something could have gotten into those, once turned tight it almost takes my two hands to unscrew it.....I have heard of raccoons doing amazing things though. Good Luck!!

 

[cabincrazyone]

If it was a bear you'd know it by the damage ... as in destroyed. I'm betting on raccoon.

Also, I keep all my seed in metal containers. Mice and squirrels can chew into almost any kind of plastic container. Perhaps those Pet Smart cans have been anti-rodent-ed somehow.

(I'm not saying mice unscrewed the top, because you didn't find any of their small crowbars at the scene of the crime.)

 

[Attack Chicken]

I'd say bigfoot

 

[Tala]

Those ARE very sturdy containers so I'm amazed too. I'd guess raccoon though, with their "hands"

I strictly use metal. Use a metal trashcan with handles on the lid and sides, and run a chain through, padlock if you have 2-legged preds. If you can get a hold of 55gal drums with the clamp on lids and rubber gaskets on the lid, they are about as bombproof as they come. I've not found a raccoon that could break/chew a through the chain on my trashcan yet.

 

[patman75]

I vote raccoon.

 

[yellowrose]

A second vote for Racoons! They are wiley little critters!