The Old Folks Home

[vehve]

Was the throat of the fox intact? I'd guess that a raptor would go straight for the tummy while a coyote would probably go for the throat. If someone knows their behavior better, then say so, but seeing how hawks have attacked our chickens and comparing that to how our dogs kill vermin, or play with each other that's the way I'd see it going.

 

[WVduckchick]

The fox was pretty torn up. Throat, belly, whole face had been chewed on. Entire neck bone exposed, all the way around.

I personally didn't see the carcass, except pics, but I wish I had, because I would have looked for different signs that may have given a better clue. I dont think there was many pawprints around either. Just a wide circle of fur!

We lost a chicken a few days ago, just disappeared during the day while free-ranging, and we have seen a couple of hawks flying around, so anything is possible at this point.

Thanks for the point about the throat though. I'll keep that in mind when/if we get another one.

 

[sourland]

Your description sounds even more like a coyote. It didn't really want to eat the fox - it just wanted to destroy it and the competition that it represented.

 

[Beer can]

It very well could have been a hawk, especially if it was in a trap. I know hawks are not eagles but I've heard around here people have saw bald eagles attack deer.
And these crazy eagle attacks;
http://www.google.com/url?q=http://...VWbCu8&usg=AFQjCNG6deBXPgrlpyrSLRFzSPmbjaTLZA

 

[WVduckchick]

That's pretty wild Beer can!

Last spring, I watched some bald eagles hatch on a camera that they had set in a nest somewhere in Iowa. Watching those baby eagles grow was cool. But watching the parents fly off and come back with live fish, squirrels, moles, rabbits, etc, was amazing to see how they ripped those animals apart! I have no doubt a hawk could do it.

 

[WVduckchick]

Good point Sour, we just wondered if it got interrupted, then it left the carcass. It's illegal to leave the carcass and reset the trap, so when we reset it, we buried part of it, and it came back and took it, but didn't spring the trap. We're still trying though....

 

[chickadoodles]

We had some coyote's here attach a pet dog and they attacked him from the rear and tore out his testies and the muscles in the backs of his legs at the ankles to cripple him.

 

[sourland]

Wasted the morning reading on line political articles - scary stuff.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

... I notice the biddy inside didn't even run away from the fence. Ho boy, no wonder they love to eat chickens.

Chickens are pretty well blind at night and a fairly quiet animal can walk right up to them.
That's how I catch my chickens that don't go in at dusk. Just walk up to them and grab them. Same birds I can't get within 20 feet of during the day.

Your description sounds even more like a coyote. It didn't really want to eat the fox - it just wanted to destroy it and the competition that it represented.

X2. Coyote or dog get my vote.

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For you bee keepers in northern climates, do you insulate your hives, what do you use to insulate, for winter and at what temperature do you want to have it in place?

I just watched a special on Africanized bees and their spread. They've been researching to determine why interbreeding with more docile European bees hasn't made them less aggressive as was widely expected to happen by experts.
They figured it out but what they determined won't lead to an remedy.
They inseminated an African queen with both African and European sperm.
They then grew the larvae and found that all the African larvae emerged as queens one day before the Europeans. So that means, in a hive, the first queen to emerge will emit it's pheromones and become the new queen. Then she goes around and kills all her rivals - the Europeans.

....................................
Hilarious Daily Show study of the Federal Election Commission.
clip is about half way down the page
http://www.salon.com/2015/11/13/the...parable_the_daily_show_shames_the_super_pacs/
the full episode is here, all about money in politics
http://www.cc.com/full-episodes/a6v...--christine-and-the-queens-season-21-ep-21024

 

[drumstick diva]

Boy, they are programmed to be ruthless