What stole my feeder?

[omochick]

I have chickens, but this question actually pertains to an automatic feeder for my barn cats. I figured this community is more savvy than others on the topic of raccoons. I know we have raccoons because I find their footprints around my coop. I had a feeder in a plastic tub weighted down with some blocks of wood and bricks. Usually, I have a cooler filled with water on top of that to secure it more. A few weeks ago we went camping and I never put the cooler back. The other morning I walk outside and the tub was knocked over and a few feet away from where it was. I kick myself for leaving it vulnerable to the raccoons and go to get it all to put it back. Only, there's no feeder. I look around thinking it must have gotten dragged a few feet away. Nothing. I have walked all over our property and there is no sign of it. I'm baffled. There is many more valuable items on the patio that a human thief would have grabbed over a silly cat feeder. The feeder is 4.6lbs and I had just filled it so add another pound or so, with dimensions of 18.5 x 8.7 x 12.4 inches. Can and would a raccoon carry that off???

 

[pennyJo1960]

I bet it did or dog you would be surprised

 

[chickengeorgeto]

... The feeder is 4.6lbs and I had just filled it so add another pound or so, with dimensions of 18.5 x 8.7 x 12.4 inches. Can and would a raccoon carry that off???

Your physical location is missing. It may be that you live in one of those lucky places where bears, either Black, Brown a.k.a. Grizzly bears are present. My limited bear experience suggest that either of these two bear species could walk off with your cat's feeder and then to add insult to injury use the empty cat food feeder as a toothpick.

 

[Raenh]

If you lived near me, I'd blame my dog skye - she is good at making things disappear by tearing it into tiny pieces that you step on forever!

 

[omochick]

I'm in Iowa. We are out in the country near Wisconsin, but chances are no bears. I just ordered a security camera so we can keep a better eye on things.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Go visit any neighbors that keep chickens and pretend you're just there to check out their beautiful flock, but keep your eye scanning around for your feeder.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

If you lived near me, I'd blame my dog skye - she is good at making things disappear by tearing it into tiny pieces that you step on forever!

Some dogs, especially the retriever breeds have an inherent desire to tote things around in their mouth. Don't ask me how I know this but when I had a labrador Retriever every empty beer can, hamburger wrapper, along with my then neighbor's newspaper all ended up at my front door.

 

[omochick]

I set up a security camera last night and caught two large raccoons sniffing around the patio. Not sure where they set up the new Coon Cafe with the old feeder, but I'll make sure my new auto feeder is more secure this time!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Sounds like you found your thieves then

 

[llombardo]

I accidentally left garbage by my front door. I had thrown out a whole pizza. It wasn't super light and it was a big pizza/box. A raccoon dragged the box under my car and had a pizza party.