What kind of Predator is this?????

[chookchick]

Hey you guys, check out the lower left corner very carefully--doesn't that look like his hock? If so, then this is a much bigger animal than you would at first think from the tail--I think looking at it at the side angle makes it look smaller than it really its. The hock appears to be spotted, which would support the idea of a young panther. Keep that game camera on!

 

[chookchick]

oops double post

 

[Chicken Fruit]

Judging by the tail length and the size and coloration of the lower leg visible in the picture it's a bobcat.

The leg is extended back as its walking away, in no other species would this allow the end of the tail to line up in such a way with the lower leg. A mountain lion, or any subspecies there of would have a longer tail. If it were an immature animal of a large feline family the tail would still have to be longer.

bobcats have spots on the legs, and tails of just that length which are normally cocked up at the end as they walk.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3wl9hZHouBA/SaRpkQwnB3I/AAAAAAAAACg/Pcp7wZLPiwo/s320/bobcat+tail.jpg

http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/mammals/bobcat/images/bobcat1.jpg

http://img1.photographersdirect.com/img/21706/wm/pd1639852.jpg

 

[Jeff9118]

Quote:
You might be on to somthing there.

 

[CityClucks]

Yep, if that's a hock it could definitely be a bobcat - good eye chookchick.

 

[wanda047]

Quote:
You might be on to somthing there.

Might be right. Here's a photo of the rump-end of a bobcat we have mounted in our home. This is a large bobcat. You might can use this photo for comparison to the original trail cam photo. What'cha think?

 

[chookchick]

I don't know--that tail looks too long and hangs too low in the original photo. I still vote for the young florida panther (check out the link on page 3). Besides, it's way cooler. (Sorry, it is awful to lose chickens no matter the predator!)

 

[preppy*hippie*chick]

I don't think it looks like a hock. I think it's just the ground. Looks like quite a long tail to me.

 

[Chicken Fruit]

preppy*hippie*chick :

I don't think it looks like a hock. I think it's just the ground. Looks like quite a long tail to me.

I see a hock, but I agree that a florida panther, or some subspecies of a cougar is way cooler than a bob cat. but thats still what I think it is. No subspecies of panther can be so lightly spotted on the leg, and stretch its hock far enough from the body to reach the tip of the tail- in a normal walking gate anyway.

I hope we get more pictures after a couple nights, then we'll know!

...only without the chicken fatalities, naturally.​

 

[lone cedar farm]

Looks like a large Bobcat, I have one mounted also and looks identical.