Taken / Dead Duck

[JinxieKat]

One of my ducks was taken last night at 2:30am from our duck house last night. I am going to assume she is dead. What is concerning me is I am not sure what took her. There is very little evidence left; a couple of feathers (left on top of the 3' fence) and some blood spots (on the brush) across the creek were the culprit took her.

We have had her for 4 months and have been using the same mechanism as a door with no issue. It is a hog wire fence cut down and bolted to 4x4s that goes in front of the door. There is also mesh (green temp fencing) that is covering the holes. Apparently, the culprit knocked it over.

Our #1 priority today is to make & install a permanent door too keep our other 5 ducks safe.

Does anyone have any clue on what I may be dealing with (i.e. a cat, raccoon, possum, etc.)? We live in a "city" (pop. 32K) but its more of a farm community that is very close to the country. I do not think it was a fox but I am not ruling that option out.

Thanks in advance for any insight on this issue.

 

[B Redhawk]

Three feet of fence is pretty short for a predator fence for starters. It wasn't a raccoon or opossum since they tend to kill, eat some and run, leaving the carcass behind. Fox could jump that fence and they are prone to grab and go, like the evidence you mention. Cats would have left more feathers around in my opinion. Cities are not immune to Fox or Coyote communities, so it could have been either one.

 

[JinxieKat]

We have two fences. The outside fence and and inside fence. The house itself which also has a gate in front.

We live dead center of the city, so I'm guessing probably a opossum since we just saw one a few days ago or a raccoon.

Here is what the house looks like. Obviously we will be adding a door that will be locked at night so this doesn't happen again.

My husband thought that it was cute that I put the ducks to bed every night and "secured" them. Guess it wasn't tight enough.