*Update* Found what's Trying to Dig Into Our Playhouse.

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Most of our coops are inside pens. But illness prevented me from being sufficiently prepared to house our last two goslings hatched. So they stayed inside in a hutch for a spell, then we moved the hutch outside right next to our patio. There are gates protecting this area, and all the chicken pens surround our patio. Then we bought a playhouse and set it up temporarily outside that gate and next to our large goose shed. Got hardware cloth on the windows and locks on doors and shutters, but have not erected a pen around it.

So came out one morning to find scratch marks on the door. Still being sick and unable to do more, that night we wrapped the outside with hardware cloth - more scratch marks the next morning. So i figured they would be safer back in that hutch inside the gate and off the patio. But then i looked and saw there were scratch marks on the bottom of that door. So whatever is after them was digging at the cage when they were inside the gate, off the patio, with string lights on all night. Until i can come up with a better solution, i dragged the hutch inside our house and they are sleeping in there.

i know we have skunks in the area. We smell them and just recently have seen babies at the back of our yard. Could a skunk do this? We have had possums in the past, and there are probably raccoons, although i have not seen any recently. We are in a residential neighborhood, on about 1/2 acre. Probably no other predators than what i have mentioned. Any idears?

Our playhouse:


Up close:


Hutch:

 

[OmeletMan]

That is a lot of chewing and scratching.

Not likely a skunk. Probably a raccoon.

Should make a lot of noise. Have you heard the critter trying to get in?

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i haven't heard it, and we leave our bedroom door open at night. That's the scary thing. And none of the other animals have given off alarms. i would put a trap out except i'm afraid of catching that skunk.

 

[zazouse]

WOW only thing i ever see chew something up that bad was a rat. oh and a horse too.
Whatever it is it is sure not gonna give up so i would set a trap and put out a tril cam for sure.
Hope you find out what it is before you loose anything.
You need a good dog.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

WOW only thing i ever see chew something up that bad was a rat. oh and a horse too.
Whatever it is it is sure not gonna give up so i would set a trap and put out a tril cam for sure.
Hope you find out what it is before you loose anything.
You need a good dog.

We have rats but i would think they would chew from the bottom. We don't have horses.

i need to clean my trail cam, had batteries leak in there. i know a dog is a good suggestion, but i don't have the energy to care for and train a dog. i think getting that cam up and running is the best idea at this point, see what we're dealing with.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Well, our game cam confirms it's a skunk. It's a regular skunk party out in back at night, and even before dusk. Mom and two babies. The babies are zipping around later in the day, when it's still light out. i erected a secure pen around the gosling playhouse. Then last night we set up our motion activated scarecrow sprinkler. i heard it going off all night. But game cam pics showed skunks frolicking around. So i called our Federal Trapper this morning and they are coming to set traps. It's $25 to trap and dispose of the first one, then $12.50 for each critter after that. i was willing to live and let live. But we can't be afraid to be in our backyard, and i can't put our animals at risk. Wish me luck!

 

[zazouse]

AWW well at least you know now, can we see the cam photos.

 

[DDRanch]

That seems a lot of damage for a skunk. I couldn't tell from your report if you actually saw a skunk chewing and trying to get in. The top damage looks to be too high but that might be just the angle of your camera.

You could sprinkle flour around the area where the predator would walk and identify the tracks in the event you still have predators after the skunk capture.

If you didn't actually see a skunk chewing, I think you have something else. Good luck and let us know.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Unfortunately, they were on my husband's computer and he deleted them. But, we'll have more tonight, and i'll make sure they get saved!

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

That seems a lot of damage for a skunk. I couldn't tell from your report if you actually saw a skunk chewing and trying to get in. The top damage looks to be too high but that might be just the angle of your camera.

You could sprinkle flour around the area where the predator would walk and identify the tracks in the event you still have predators after the skunk capture.

If you didn't actually see a skunk chewing, I think you have something else. Good luck and let us know.

No, did not see or have a picture of a skunk digging or chewing on the playhouse or hutch. We just haven't seen any other critters out there either visually or with the cam other than those skunks and several curious cats. The playhouse is 4' x 4' x almost 6' tall at the peak. So the area between the dutch door is maybe 3' up? Yeh, i would think it's more consistent with a raccoon. But also thinking a raccoon would be strong enough to get through that soft wood. i think the game cam needs to be a nightly thing. i have two, actually, but can't seem to get the second one to work.