Suggstions for deterring an eagle

[kodiakchicken]

Okay, we've confirmed that our Maggie duck was killed by an eagle. A big bald eagle, to be exact. Just yesterday he made another try at one of the other ducks. She barely got under the porch in time. I talked with the Fish and Wildlife Service today to see if there was an option for DLP (we can kill every other animal, including brown bears, for DLP). Unfortunately, eagles are protected under a federal law and there are no provisions for DLP.

Sooo, does anyone have any suggestions for dealing with this darn bird? We've fired 12 gauge popper rounds at it twice, which has put it on the run, but it keeps coming back. I really don't want to have to shoot, shovel and shutup. We've got close neighbors and with such long days it would be almost impossible to do so without getting caught.

We've thought about owl decoys. We can string some old fishing net over some of the yard, but we're on a half acre so we can't do the whole thing.

Any suggestions are welcome.

 

[Brindlebtch]

Put up the fishing net then can you run fishing line at intervals and hang something sparkly on it, like aluminum foil? Or just put up fishing line at intervals. Once the eagle came in contact with it I doubt he would want to hit it again. Worth a try and fishing line isn't too expensive, I hope.

 

[Luvducks]

Put up the net as said above and I read somewhere you can hang scratched CD's or video games tied to a string in the area you want to deter the Eagles. The Shine will deter them.

We have Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles and Hawks also. I am going to try this with CD's over the pens. I cannot let any of my ducks or chickens free range. My dogs chase coyotes away every day. I had two at my porch this morning.

 

[orcasislandchickens]

Cover the run. I have an eagle that sits politely in a tree near my door and talks happily to me as I go to feed in the morning. I think it is probably a rescue rehabbed at a nearby wildlife center and it is actually asking for a chicken breakfast.

 

[EricShane]

wow.. ive never seen a bald eagle!

 

[Tailfeathers]

Quote:
What's "DLP"?

As for the SSS method, I thought briefly about the same but not for long. Besides, many of them have transmitters in them and you wouldn't want the Feds to come knocking on your door to see why that new freshly dug grave in your backyard contains a Federally protected bird.

I lost a Khaki Campbell duck last weekend to a juvenile Bald Eagle. Lost at least 2-3 ducks last year or the year before to the same. It hasn't come back around so far and am hoping it don't.

Btw, someone once told me that Paint Guns might work. They don't harm the bird but I guess they feel the impact and definitely don't like the stain it leaves on them for awhile. Might give that a whirl - if it's legal of course.

God Bless,

 

[Vince8]

I think using a fishing linewith aluminum foil or CDs is the best idea although it could be possible that it doesn't help much. I wouldn't shoot at the eagle with a paintball gun, can't imagin that the eagle won't get hurt in some way.

 

[LynneP]

Depending on your state or province, if you are caught firing rounds in the general direction of a protected species you can be charged and fines- here it would be over $2000.

Only legal way to protect birds from eagles and other raptors is to have a roofed run.

 

[TammyTX]

...am I crazy or have I heard (maybe just here in Texas) that there is legislation..or something...that will make it legal to kill raptors if you are protecting your property?

Regarding the eagle....do they have any natural preditors? I was thinking along the lines of something they are afraid of to keep them away.

 

[kodiakchicken]

Thanks for all the suggestions. We haven't done anything yet, mainly because we haven't had time. I talked to Fish & Wildlife (Feds) and they suggested just keeping the ducks put up until the fish start running and then the eagles will be fat and happy again. We're not going quite that far, but we do put the ducks up when we leave. Ironically, the eagle hasn't even tried for a chicken.

EricShane - If you want to see a bald eagle, come to Kodiak in the winter. We have hundreds of them, if not thousands, that live in town during the winter. They're scavengers, hanging out around the fish canneries. That's not to say I don't love seeing them. If I ever wreck my car it will be from trying to stare up through my windshield, watching an eagle.

Tailfeathers, DLP is "defense of life or property". Alaska has pretty open DLP laws. I could legally kill a bear for getting into my chicken coop if I had taken the proper precautions to keep him out in the first place. Unfortunately, eagles are a whole different story.

LynneP - the rounds we have been firing are blanks. They are considered a non-lethal form of deterrant and are legal, because there is no projectile from the barrel. It just makes a huge boom, which scares the bird of.

TammyTX, nope, eagles don't have any natural predators on Kodiak. They are the apex species of the bird world. We do have owls, but they are small and not a threat to eagles.

I'll let you all know what I figure out. For now we're just being vigilant but still allowing free ranging.

Thanks again!