So as some of you have heard I have Owls in my barn well I spent all day today chasing a skunk from one side of the Brooder barn to the other. I could smell him moving and I ripped all my ground protection siding off the Brooder house so I could get clear shots at him if i managed to see him, I never did so at 5pm I threw in the towel since my stomach and chest were raw from hours of ground crawling trying to get this murderer. I ran to TS and bought a buy one get one free live trap special.
Since this skunk (or so I assumed) had killed over 15 guinea's I decided to take one of my culls and cull it since it had a crooked beak and could no longer thrive for food or water. I tossed it in the cage for bait and went about my chores. I was a eagle scout as a kid so I was always exeptional in tracking. I studied my surroundings at 7 pm ish noticed that while I was gone I had an air attack by a raptor there were impact feathers and some flesh in a heapin the yard. I scouted my perimeter I found what I thought to be Some rabbit fur stuck on the barb wire and Some large poo's Probably a racoon. I saw no tracks as its been dry here since july we have had no rain and are in a drought. 8pm it starts to get dark and I notice a buff brahma banty roo running around (broke out of his pen before I had it 100% secured for the night.) the GH Owl swoops at him lucky a miss I fire a few shots into my hay bail hoping to provoke him into leaving which he did.
I check the trap and yup got the skunk thats been causeing havoc... (or Did I?) me and the daughter gear up for disposal of the fowl smelling beast I place the trap on the back of the car and we drive to my dried out pond to toss the carcass. As we are driving I see a coyote streak across the road intothe tall weeds in the ditch. (or did I see a yote)? instanly a cotton tail burst out of the grass and runs. I still see the yote off to the side of the road. (so I think) then it turns and so non shalontly crosses the road again this time 2 feet infront of our car with a rabbit in its mouth. It wasnt a coyote it was the largest bobcat I have seen in these parts ever.
so to sum this long story up. Not only do I have to monitor for skunks,opossums,raccons,coyotes, GH Owls, Hawks But now a bobcat on my property. I have bagged 5 predators last week and the skunk tonight. Looks like its no sleep for me for a few more days I got a kitty to catch.
Since this skunk (or so I assumed) had killed over 15 guinea's I decided to take one of my culls and cull it since it had a crooked beak and could no longer thrive for food or water. I tossed it in the cage for bait and went about my chores. I was a eagle scout as a kid so I was always exeptional in tracking. I studied my surroundings at 7 pm ish noticed that while I was gone I had an air attack by a raptor there were impact feathers and some flesh in a heapin the yard. I scouted my perimeter I found what I thought to be Some rabbit fur stuck on the barb wire and Some large poo's Probably a racoon. I saw no tracks as its been dry here since july we have had no rain and are in a drought. 8pm it starts to get dark and I notice a buff brahma banty roo running around (broke out of his pen before I had it 100% secured for the night.) the GH Owl swoops at him lucky a miss I fire a few shots into my hay bail hoping to provoke him into leaving which he did.
I check the trap and yup got the skunk thats been causeing havoc... (or Did I?) me and the daughter gear up for disposal of the fowl smelling beast I place the trap on the back of the car and we drive to my dried out pond to toss the carcass. As we are driving I see a coyote streak across the road intothe tall weeds in the ditch. (or did I see a yote)? instanly a cotton tail burst out of the grass and runs. I still see the yote off to the side of the road. (so I think) then it turns and so non shalontly crosses the road again this time 2 feet infront of our car with a rabbit in its mouth. It wasnt a coyote it was the largest bobcat I have seen in these parts ever.
so to sum this long story up. Not only do I have to monitor for skunks,opossums,raccons,coyotes, GH Owls, Hawks But now a bobcat on my property. I have bagged 5 predators last week and the skunk tonight. Looks like its no sleep for me for a few more days I got a kitty to catch.
