Trap problem.

[TheBeardie]

I lost a cockerel a couple months back to a predator. I've been setting a trap since then. I caught a opossum and my neighbour/relatives cat. I've been setting the trap constantly, because I live in the middle of the woods and predators tend to see a buffet when they see a flock.

Last night something tried to dig under the trap and set it off doing so. It also ate a egg out of a nearby nesting box.

What can I do to keep whatever it is from digging under the trap? Any other tips?

 

[roosterhavoc]

Can you see any tracks in the fresh dirt?
Was the cockerel just gone or did you find it dead?

 

[centrarchid]

I lost a cockerel a couple months back to a predator. I've been setting a trap since then. I caught a opossum and my neighbour/relatives cat. I've been setting the trap constantly, because I live in the middle of the woods and predators tend to see a buffet when they see a flock.

Last night something tried to dig under the trap and set it off doing so. It also ate a egg out of a nearby nesting box.

What can I do to keep whatever it is from digging under the trap? Any other tips?
View attachment 1705736

Long digging strokes forming what looks like a trench like shone are typical of a fox.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Umm excuse me? Rules?

 

[TheBeardie]

Can you see any tracks in the fresh dirt?
Was the cockerel just gone or did you find it dead?

I checked and didn't see any tracks. It was a OEGB cockerel that was taken during the night it he was in a Batchelor coop that wasn't completely finished and obviously was not safe. All the boys got put in crates and put in the more protected coop during the night until the coop was fixed.

Piles of feathers where well away from the coop in a few different areas. I did not find a body.

 

[TheBeardie]

Umm excuse me? Rules?

?

 

[centrarchid]

I checked and didn't see any tracks. It was a OEGB cockerel that was taken during the night it he was in a Batchelor coop that wasn't completely finished and obviously was not safe. All the boys got put in crates and put in the more protected coop during the night until the coop was fixed.

Piles of feathers where well away from the coop in a few different areas. I did not find a body.

This part very consistent with fox that pools bird from pen and dispatches / processes some when it gets to a more open / safer location.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Foxes dig in multiple ways. It depends on the soil.
Since the bird was missing it was more than likely a fox or bobcat and since you’re in Florida a gray fox would be more likely. Cages aren’t the best but if you could move the trap to a more wooded area, cover it up some and make sure it doesn’t move when you push down on the inside. If it wobbles they aren’t as likely to go inside. You can block the sides with heavy rocks but if it’s a fox other traps are more useful. At least a bigger cage would up your chances.

 

[roosterhavoc]

?

Sorry that wasn’t for you.

 

[TheBeardie]

I'll move it back into the woods and something heavy to weigh it down. This is the largest trap I can use. I can't spend 160 to get a huge trap at the moment. It'd be nice though.