What did this???

[Aunt Angus]

Update...

The chicken's fence isn't working as well as I thought it was. I sat with it this evening and tested it continually for about 15 minutes. In that time, it would jump up to 10k, drop to 2.5k, jump to 4k, and so on. I need a constant 10k for bears.

We rigged some stuff to make noise if he comes back to my car. The lights are going to be left on 24/7. And I'm going to sleep in the livingroom with the door open. I am a light sleeper, and my dogs (little doggies, not LGD or anything that would scare a bear) will bark. I have the panic button for my car at the ready. I don't have a car alarm, unfortunately, but this will scare the hell out of anything that is near if I set it off. All feed has been moved either into the house or into the garage.

I will try to fix the fence tomorrow. I was out there for a few hours in the dark tonight trying to figure out what's shorting it, but it's too hard to do in pitch blackness with just a flashlight.

I will also contact the neighbor tomorrow. He didn't answer my call tonight. He has goats and chickens, too, and I don't think he closes them in at night. That bear went over/through his fence. I wonder if he had losses this morning...

And, no, I still don't want to go on the trip.

 

[McChooky]

Feed is going in the laundry room.
Birds are locked up for the next 2 weeks, at least. We are out of the country for the next 2 weeks. I will tell my son to leave them inside that entire time.
Fence is HOT - putting out 10k right now.

REALLY worried about my birds. I was just talking to one of my students, and he 't ope a bear decimated his very large flock of over a hundred birds over the course of a month.

Bears and raccoons aren't the only animals that can open doors, canines and cats can as well. Whatever it was only wanted the feed so bait the fence before you leave so it doesn't get another opportunity.

 

[McChooky]

 

[McChooky]

You want it zapped in the mouth or nose .Bait the fence in a couple places .It will be back..

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

I woke up this morning to find a weird scene:

My SUV car door open. Handle is 3 1/2 feet up.
View attachment 3286606

The contents of the trunk strewn about the car
View attachment 3286607

The goat feed I store in there all over
View attachment 3286608

The bucket I keep my goat feed in about 50ft away from the car with the lid ripped off and puncture marks
View attachment 3286609

Zero damage to the car or its interior, no claw marks, tracks, scat - nothing. Nothing on the ground or anywhere on the car's exterior that I can see.
View attachment 3286610

Quick backstory: We're getting ready to leave for vacation, so I stocked up on supplies, which were still in the trunk of my car. I keep the goat feed in reused kitty litter buckets for convenience. I keep it in the car for the moment because my goats got into it a few weeks ago, so I'm trying to figure out a storage solution. In the meantime, I thought the back of my SUV was secure. I was wrong, clearly.

There's also a strong skunky/musky smell. And nothing else is touched (garbage cans on the side of the house, bags of chicken feed also in the trunk, etc).

Happened some time between 4:00am and 5:30am. Hubby leaves for work at 4. I went outside and discovered the scene at 5:30.

So what do y'all think did this?

It’s a bear. They are crafty and at this time of year seeking out any and all food sources to fatten up for winter.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Is a 2 inch wide bite mark small for a bear??? I don't honestly know.

Sorry for all the questions. I'm a little shook. We've had bear pass through, but not get into anything. It's pretty rare here.

Should I be worried about my birds and my goats? And my cat?

Depends on age but they can nibble, take small bites or chomp down wide open. The bear is looking for easy food sources so unlikely to chase a cat. Put a strong electric fence up and drape raw bacon on it.. he will leave after a good shock.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Nothing visited the property last night except for a couple of deer, a housecat, and a skunk. How do I know? Because I was awake for most of it.

I'll talk to the neighbor today. I forgot about his apiaries until hubby reminded me. There's all manner of goodies up on his property to entice bears.

How many bear-less nights need to pass before I can safely assumed the bear has moved on?

 

[Canadian Wind]

When is the trip?

You need to get some rest. Get that fence nice and hot, and then take a break. We don't want you stressing yourself out this much.

Do bears hibernate in your area?

 

[Aunt Angus]

When is the trip?

You need to get some rest. Get that fence nice and hot, and then take a break. We don't want you stressing yourself out this much.

Do bears hibernate in your area?

I leave tomorrow. TOMORROW.

I still have to fix the chicken's fence. I am at work now.

Bears typically don't hibernate in this area.

 

[DickMidnight]

I leave tomorrow. TOMORROW.

how long are you going for? hitting any distilleries while you're there?