This morning we found several digging marks around our quail and turkey pens. One digging spot went under the door of the pen. It made a small opening that an adult cat probably couldn't get through. Also I found around the back side of the pen a dead quail that had the insides eaten out, mostly the breast area.
None of the other birds were harmed, but we found more diggings inside the pen. There are several boards propped up at a slant to protect the bird from weather. Mice had dug a few small holes under there, but today they had been dug much bigger, by something else. Either it was going after the mice or it was making a burrow?? We even ran water down the holes thinking something may still be in them.
The pens are flight pens, so they are covered. We have electric wire around the pen except where the doors are.
The predator could only access the pen through the small hole it dug. Too small for a raccoon. Possibly a skunk, but I thought skunks killed the whole flock when they got in and there was no lingering skunk smell. Plus whatever this was hung out and burrowed, etc. I was thinking a mink like creature maybe. I've tried to read up on it this morning and not coming up with anything.
We live in the high desert, mostly sage at the base of a large mountain. There is a canal that runs right by the pen, but has no water in it this time of year. I had last checked on the birds Sunday afternoon. The killed bird looked fresh and some of the diggings seemed fresh. I believe it happened early this morning.
Any ideas what this might be?
None of the other birds were harmed, but we found more diggings inside the pen. There are several boards propped up at a slant to protect the bird from weather. Mice had dug a few small holes under there, but today they had been dug much bigger, by something else. Either it was going after the mice or it was making a burrow?? We even ran water down the holes thinking something may still be in them.
The pens are flight pens, so they are covered. We have electric wire around the pen except where the doors are.
The predator could only access the pen through the small hole it dug. Too small for a raccoon. Possibly a skunk, but I thought skunks killed the whole flock when they got in and there was no lingering skunk smell. Plus whatever this was hung out and burrowed, etc. I was thinking a mink like creature maybe. I've tried to read up on it this morning and not coming up with anything.
We live in the high desert, mostly sage at the base of a large mountain. There is a canal that runs right by the pen, but has no water in it this time of year. I had last checked on the birds Sunday afternoon. The killed bird looked fresh and some of the diggings seemed fresh. I believe it happened early this morning.
Any ideas what this might be?
