Stella's Social Club

[Happy Chooks]

Could it be that the weasel did the killing but the bobcat got trapped? Bobcats usually take the prey away.

A friend of mine's cousin is a Wildlife Biologist for the Dept of Fish and Game. She says we do not have weasels here. (unless someone released a ferret) She thinks what I'm seeing is a mother teaching it's young to hunt. She is coming over this morning, so we'll see what she says. She also said that once a bobcat finds food, it will keep coming back. The adult bobcat is smaller than I thought it would be.

She did tell me that I'm in my legal right to shoot it if I want to due to the number of livestock lost.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Oh wow. Why is it I have more sympathy for a bobcat than a weasel? Hope this is the end of your troubles. Your losses are heartbreaking.

 

[ronott1]

A friend of mine's cousin is a Wildlife Biologist for the Dept of Fish and Game. She says we do not have weasels here. (unless someone released a ferret) She thinks what I'm seeing is a mother teaching it's young to hunt. She is coming over this morning, so we'll see what she says. She also said that once a bobcat finds food, it will keep coming back. The adult bobcat is smaller than I thought it would be.

She did tell me that I'm in my legal right to shoot it if I want to due to the number of livestock lost.

I hope it is the bobcat and the attacks are over!

I found a report from Eldarado county that says long tailed weasels are in parts of that county:



Kim, capayvalley chick found a skeleton of one on her property in Guinda, up by cache creek. It is a possibility--often wildlife folks do not want to admit to certain animals being in an area.

I would get a game camera. The critter cannot move fast enough to avoid it.

 

[robhuncor]

Oh wow. Why is it I have more sympathy for a bobcat than a weasel? Hope this is the end of your troubles. Your losses are heartbreaking.

x2!

I have seen bobcats standing outside my pens but they've never gotten in. They are beautiful. There is protected watershed area around here with the main road going through it and while driving through one day I saw a bobcat suddenly leap out in front of the car in front of me. The car hit it and tossed the bobcat into the air - horrible! That car did not stop but I did. I crouched next to it, looked into it's beautiful eyes and watched it die - I still cry thinking of it. I kept saying over and over, "I'm so sorry" and I wasn't even the one who hit it!

I still think the culprit is a Fisher - they are vicious and can get into small openings just like a weasel. They also are impossible to trap with a regular havahart.

 

[mlm Mike]

Well.............it turns out this attack was not the weasel. Same injuries - bite marks and broken neck. My trap was sprung tonight. And curled up on top of my rooster is a................bobcat. Pretty one too. I've never seen a bobcat up close and personal before. I'll be calling the county tomorrow and letting them deal with it. You cannot kill a bobcat here unless you shoot it in the process of killing your chickens. Maybe they can help me get the weasel.

Oh my! I hope that is the culprit, and your nightmare is over!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Oh wow. Why is it I have more sympathy for a bobcat than a weasel? Hope this is the end of your troubles. Your losses are heartbreaking.

I know, right? I feel the same way.

I hope it is the bobcat and the attacks are over!

I found a report from Eldarado county that says long tailed weasels are in parts of that county:


Kim, capayvalley chick found a skeleton of one on her property in Guinda, up by cache creek. It is a possibility--often wildlife folks do not want to admit to certain animals being in an area.

I would get a game camera. The critter cannot move fast enough to avoid it.

I think she labels weasels as weasels, not the weasel family. She did say that there are minks here, but I'm too far from the river. She also gave me a good tip, if you don't want to trap skunks, put the trap on blocks.

Now we play the waiting game and see if I have any more losses. I too hope they are over.

Oh my! I hope that is the culprit, and your nightmare is over!

Me too!

 

[kathyinmo]

Oh my goodness, Kelly. I am so sorry for your losses. Sooo sorry!

Have you heard any more since you got the bobcat?

 

[drumstick diva]

hoping things are nice & peaceful since the bobcat is gone

 

[Cynthia12]

Oh Kelly! I'm so sorry! Those roosters of yours..gone. Will you be able to find another boy or 2? This is just awful. I hope this cat was the problem. No more attacks!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Oh my goodness, Kelly. I am so sorry for your losses. Sooo sorry!

Have you heard any more since you got the bobcat?

No, but the birds in the lower coop are still locked up. I'm setting up the game camera today and getting it out there before I let them back out into the run. We have rain today, so any critters probably won't be out anyway.

Oh Kelly! I'm so sorry! Those roosters of yours..gone. Will you be able to find another boy or 2? This is just awful. I hope this cat was the problem. No more attacks!

I hope so too! I have eggs lined up for Barnevelders. I only have 1 remaining Barnevelder hen. I will probably line up Welsummer eggs, but if I choose to switch breeds, I'm also getting Barred Rocks and Rhode Island Reds from Fred in the spring.

that this is it!