Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Cindlady]

Hi All!

Someone found cougar tracks about 1/2 mile from where we lived before moving here. They got it on a trail camera too! Apparently it's been in the area a while and the DNR knows about it but never warned anyone. I understand they don't want a bunch of people going out and trying to hunt it, but what about livestock and people who have dogs (and kids) in the yard?

Sleet or freezing rain or some sh!t coming down on and off all night.

Night All!

 

[birds4kids]

I wouldn't worry too much, predators really don't like to be around people, remember WE are the most widespread successful predator on the planet. I lived in Da U.P. a few years and my Dad is still an avid hunter/trapper up there and there were cougar, bobcat wolf, coyotes, fox, fisher, marten, bear etc. coyotes, bear, fisher and bobcat(some pushing 50lbs) in ABUNDANCE. One time my Dad got treed by a bear in spring, might have been a cub involved and in the years since I have moved the wolf population has exploded and a few people have reported the wolves surrounding them sometimes even in vehicles the wolves would approach but not attacks.

My parents kept chickens behind chicken wire in the midst of all this, 9 miles out of a town of 700 with miles of cedar swamp right in the backyard, previous owner even found a dead bobcat in the garage, porcupine quill in the throat, coyote in the driveway one day and a sow and cub back by the pond another and with all that the problems they had with the chicken flock were a racoon and a mink. We still let our dogs out to take care of business alone, only people who lost dogs were ones with runners like beagles or other hounds.

Trail cameras make us more aware of what is around, before them the animals were still around but only spoken of in rumor rather than confirmed, sightings were doubted.

That is not to say chickens are always safe predators certainly can take them but if you understood how many predators are actually around compared to how often someone loses a bird or other livestock you would realize it is the exception not the rule, prepare for the possibility, take some precautions, but don't get too stressed. Going to be fawn season soon and a cougar would much rather take a fawn in the woods than venture near people.

 

[GranolaGirl72]

That is not to say chickens are always safe predators certainly can take them but if you understood how many predators are actually around compared to how often someone loses a bird or other livestock you would realize it is the exception not the rule, prepare for the possibility, take some precautions, but don't get too stressed. Going to be fawn season soon and a cougar would much rather take a fawn in the woods than venture near people.

Agreed. We see coyotes and bear in our area fairly frequently and occasionally hear wolves too. Our dog ventures out by himself into the yard and our neighbor has barn cats that roam freely. Way more worried about raccoon and skunk when it comes to my hens being safe.
Oh, and the neighbor's rat terrior....

 

[jvls1942]

good afternoon
I have the feeder in the coop with about 20 pounds of ground feed in it.

I might have to make the trough wider.
there was not a chicken in sight, so I D K how it works.

I left room for adjustment ..

........jiminwisc.......

 

[Daethen]

Well, we are back from our hunt. No bird this year. He had a blast though. He got cold this morning and wanted to call it a day. About 2 hours later his guides went back by their hunt sight and there were a dozen jakes and toms running around in front of the blind.

Ah well. He fell in love with the track chair they had there for him to use. He actually wanted to spend more time in that than on his iPad!!!! So now we are trying to get the funding to get him one of his own so that he will spend more time outdoors. His quote to his dad, "I love this chair, Dad. I don't ever want to give it up." The weather sucked, but they had us in a hotel with a water park and they both loved that!

 

[Celtic Chick]

Hi All!

Someone found cougar tracks about 1/2 mile from where we lived before moving here. They got it on a trail camera too! Apparently it's been in the area a while and the DNR knows about it but never warned anyone. I understand they don't want a bunch of people going out and trying to hunt it, but what about livestock and people who have dogs (and kids) in the yard?

Sleet or freezing rain or some sh!t coming down on and off all night.

Night All!

Like you said Cindy, if they told everyone, there might be a bunch of overzealous yahoos out causing more harm than good. They have been regularly announcing on the local Milw. news about coyotes in the cities and to supervise your pets & childrens activities when outdoors because of attacks. If it can happen in the cities, then it can definitely happen anywhere else.

Livestock owners should know predators are just part of the equation. That includes neighbors dogs.

I keep forgetting to ask, Cindy. How is Rudy? I hope he is improving for you.

Dae, glad to hear your son got to get outside & enjoyed the new "wheels". Ya need tank tracks in this sloppy weather. Is he able to use a scooter?

 

[Cindlady]

Hi All!

Rudy went to the Vet last Tue. and got the sling off. He still limps but is getting better. As long as the hip is strong he shouldn't need a pin.

Dae.... I think I've seen video of those track chairs. Don't blame the kid one bit for wanting one! They look amazing, like they can go almost anywhere and with little or no help. The only thing I question is how well would the work in the average house, or would you still have to use a regular chair? The video I saw didn't show it in a house, just out and about.

Night All!

 

[Sclark73]

We just had a country neighbor have 2 of there dogs killed and taken by the local wolves right out of there yard during the daytime. When we had more snow yet a month or so ago seen tracks right up close out back by my new house. Another neighbor also had tracks less than 100' front there house. We were told they didn't get to eat off the weak or old deer this winter since it was so mild. I just want them to stay clear of my birds, knock on wood, so far so good.

 

[GranolaGirl72]

good afternoon
I have the feeder in the coop with about 20 pounds of ground feed in it.

I might have to make the trough wider.
there was not a chicken in sight, so I D K how it works.

I left room for adjustment ..

........jiminwisc.......

Have photos of the project?

 

[Celtic Chick]

Hi All!

Rudy went to the Vet last Tue. and got the sling off. He still limps but is getting better. As long as the hip is strong he shouldn't need a pin.

Dae.... I think I've seen video of those track chairs. Don't blame the kid one bit for wanting one! They look amazing, like they can go almost anywhere and with little or no help. The only thing I question is how well would the work in the average house, or would you still have to use a regular chair? The video I saw didn't show it in a house, just out and about.

Night All!

Wonderful news about Rudy, Cindy! I am so glad to hear he is healing up.

If a track chair was used outside, then that is where I would leave (use) it if I had one. (I have a scooter with some pretty meatie lugs on it that I use to ride around the property with. That puppy definitely stays parked in the garage). You could hose them down I guess, but I am not sure what those tracks would do to your floors?

We've had yotes run across our patio more than once. The neighbors lil ankle biter got snatched by a coyote but he chased it & luckily it dropped the dog. He had one heck of a vet bill but he still had his dog. If he wouldn't have been right there, it would have been a much sadder story.