Strange Predator Activity - Washington State

[elendili7]

I ran into an issue, one that I am not familiar with and was hoping someone might have some insight.

I had two Pekin ducks as pets. They were closed up in their house during the night and were allowed free rein in my yard during the day. They picked through my garden for bugs and slugs and proved great pest control! My yard and property is fully fenced with field fencing and wood posts.

Day before yesterday I left my house at 6:30am and both my ducks were out and playing in the front yard. The female had been sitting on a clutch of 5 eggs just under my front porch for the past week, but other than that, all behavior had been normal. When I returned home I couldn't find my female duck and my male was staying by my side as I fed the rest of the livestock. I called for the female and she usually answers or comes to me, but this time she did not. I went searching for her and found a trail of feathers to my backyard where I eventually discovered her.

This is rather graphic in description, but I'm hoping to save my other poultry from the same fate, so please bear with me!

I found her on her stomach with her wings slightly out to her sides. Her neck was broken and small chew marks were around her neck. No meat had been disturbed, but all the feathers and fat had been removed from her back. Again, no meat was mangled. Her head was still attached and she was not flattened.

Since I live in Western Washinton State, I know we have Bobcat, Coyote, Raccoon, and Cougar, but these animals normally hunt during the day. We also have Eagles, but this seems like a highly unlikely suspect as the duck was drug across the yard. I thought about a fisher or a weasel, but again, night predators.

Does anyone have any insight, or have you faced similar issues? Extermination ideas? The duck is now in his own pen during the day, but with his mate gone he is depressed. I have begun the search for a new friend for him.

 

[mydeeone]

It could be a regular cat

 

[elendili7]

I would say that could be the case except I found eggs in the pond today. I also have a cat that lives outside and he won't let any other cat near the house. Raccoon?

 

[slingshotandLAR]

Any and all the predators could be the culprit....

My dog has killed coons at 9:00am trying to get in the coops. Just because predators mostly hunt at night does not disqualify them from day hunting and most do.

Could have been a bobcat, or a coon or a fox or whatever. The first thing is start walking the fence and see if anything dug in, if not that only takes one or two of the list of suspects. Raptors don't do neck bites so that's out. A bobcat or a raccoon can go over that fence no problem.

Sounds like a cat, regardless of how mean your house cat is its no match for a full grown bobcat.

 

[Wrooster]

Dead but not eaten sounds like a dog. Small teeth marks and very little eaten sounds like a cat that's not hungry - possibly a house cat or a feral cat that somebody feeds.

 

[slingshotandLAR]

Dead but not eaten sounds like a dog. Small teeth marks and very little eaten sounds like a cat that's not hungry - possibly a house cat or a feral cat that somebody feeds.

Sometimes predators are interrupted by the craziest things. Something silly maybe even a car driving by can make them loose their nerve in the daylight.

Not eaten does not necessarily domestic animal. Right now theirs really not enough to know what caused your problem