Weird and Violent Attacks: Possible Rabid Animal.... Any Ideas?

[speckledhen]

http://home.mcn.net/~wtu/tracking.html
Does it look like one of these tracks?

 

[ivan3]

No Wolverines here in Cent. MO., but we do have badgers. I'm posting because of your mention of `heart shape' in the print. These fellows are equally possessed of their larger relative's bad attitude.

http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/wilderness/animals/badger.htm

 

[kees]

whoa...i'm getting scared just reading about this...wonder what the poor chickens must be thinking...

 

[Oblio13]

My guess is fisher. We don't live too far south of you, and there are a lot of them around here. One tunneled a remarkable distance to get into a friend's coop. They're amazingly strong, and they kill like weasels, i.e. for fun, and they often only eat the heads and necks.

Here's one in our yard:

And here's one in our house

:

 

[yotetrapper]

I can only think of 5 possible animals in the US that could do what you describe.

1) bear

2) wolverine

3) mountain lion (dont believe these are in ME yet)

4) Badger (also dont think are in ME, and cannot
climb trees)

5) Possibly fisher, although I can't fathom one ripping open a chain link fence.... strong yes, THAT
strong, I dont think so.

I'm leaning towards a bear cub or yearling. If you can get a photo of the track, or any claw marks in the wood, it would help.

 

[Oblio13]

Quote:
That fits through a 6" hole?

 

[d.k]

* Badgers can climb-- just googled it. MAYBE this thing thinks the chickens are impinging on it's territory.

 

[Just-Like-Hatching]

You would be amazed at what a big boar coon will do. Have had them kill 50-60 birds in a night back when I was a kid. Powerful and kill crazy at times.

 

[d.k]

* I don't think wolverines could squeeze through a 6" hole. Saw a pair once digging a burrow in the side of a ditch along the highway route while we were driving from Cali to Nebraska. I THINK we were in Wyoming at the time. THOSE suckers are HUGE!!!! Badger might make it, though.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Quote:
I agree.

You really need to reinforce your coop, my friend. I suggest changing the fencing (or adding to it) and putting cement in the ground all the way around the coop and yard.

Try looking into electric fencing, too.

Badgers are incredibly mean animals when they want to be. They are also very, very strong. Be careful.