Author Topic: Bobcat problem (Read 15116 times)

bberry · « **on:** July 31, 2007, 02:30:39 pm »

Does anyone have any recommendations for dealing with bobcats? i just discovered my whole cage of guinea keets torn apart this morning and this after finding my goose (well her wing) last week :'(. We have spotted the bobcat prowling around during the day in the neighborhood and i am heartbroken over the loss of my animals and worried about my toddler who has grown up a country boy and enjoys roaming with his older sibs around our acreage.
My worry is that this animal seems very hungry and motivated to rip through wire and spend a good amount of time snagging birds through cages.
Any words of advice on trapping or.......

Robo · « **Reply #1 on:** July 31, 2007, 02:45:05 pm »

I had a fox this Spring that was getting my guineas and chickens as they free ranged during the day. I ended up building a trap, but either someone else got him first or he moved onto easier hunting. Electric fence wasn't an option because I want my guineas to free range and eat the bugs. My chickens I left penned up after we lost a few and had a rooster get pretty badly beat up. He recovered, but it took a while. The guineas stood a better chance because they would fly up into the trees, but he was still able to get a couple.

Here is the trap I built, but ended up only catching a mom with two young coons.

I made it 2'x2'x5' so I could catch the bigger animals without issues.

Kathyp · « **Reply #2 on:** July 31, 2007, 02:50:07 pm »

it's not hungry. your critters were just easier than hunting down food. bobcats are not usually something to worry about as far as kids are concerned. they aren't very big and go after smaller prey. i have never even heard of a bobcat attacking people. mountain lions are another story.

it's pretty tough to get rid of them once they find an easy place to eat. call a pro to trap it out, or shoot it. don't get new food sources until you are sure it's gone.

bberry · « **Reply #3 on:** July 31, 2007, 03:25:28 pm »

yeah we have mountain lions now also. The big vineyard development up country has chased these animals down here into the more populated valleys and i have not had to deal with this situation before. I have free range chickens and guineas and account a certain amount of loss into my hatching numbers the past couple of years. I have been willing to accept this slight loss but it is growing and coming closer to the house and my livelihood depends on my heritage birds.
Robo-nice cage. My husband is going to build one at work for me. So do you string up some raw meat inside? I also have a sneeking suspicion that this may be a mom living with her kits in my forest. Any way to track this or know for sure?
I don't have the money for paying someone to do this for me and we kind of do things on our own around here unless way out of our league. I feel like this is one thing i should know how to deal with.

Robo · « **Reply #4 on:** July 31, 2007, 03:30:25 pm »

I modeled mine after this one.

http://www2.gsu.edu/~biojdsx/fowl/fabcops.htm

Kathyp · « **Reply #5 on:** July 31, 2007, 03:37:01 pm »

i'd shoot it. if you trap it, what will you do with it? unless you trap it and shoot it. good guess that it's a mom. they take kill to babies to give them a taste and then start teaching them to hunt on easy stuff if they can find it. animals are great machines. they do not put out more energy than they must. they'll always take easy dinner.

bberry · « **Reply #6 on:** July 31, 2007, 11:24:31 pm »

I'll trap and shoot. People are raising a fuss around here over doing that, it's crazy. A neighbor of mine had protesters outside her drive after having to shoot a mountain lion! There is always this irrational element here-good old cali.

Mici · « **Reply #7 on:** August 01, 2007, 04:34:03 am »

trap it and give it to a zoo or some other green-like organization, if they won't want to take it and care for it, make a big fuss, call the CNN and become a bobcat rescue star.

PS if you shoot it, skin it, it's hide must be one of the best looking.

Michael Bush · « **Reply #8 on:** August 01, 2007, 07:21:37 am »

Here, you'd only need a fur bearer's permit to legally trap it or shoot it either one. Then you can skin it and have the hide tanned. They are beautiful fur. I've never bothered them but then they've never bothered me, that I know of. I blame the chickens disappearing on the coyotes, foxes and skunks depending on the signs.

Some people advocate the SSS method. Shoot, shovel and shutup.

bberry · « **Reply #9 on:** August 01, 2007, 08:28:30 pm »

I like that-the SSS method, funny. That is generally how things go down, i have no idea how people found out about my neighbor but it is a small town.

Mici · « **Reply #10 on:** August 02, 2007, 04:57:01 am »

insure the chickens and stuff, buy hundreds of them, get rich, move away :-D

Cindi · « **Reply #11 on:** August 09, 2007, 10:59:04 am »

I believe when one is working so hard to raise their own food, sell the food, or whatever, they have the right to protect their stock. Animal activists.....hmmm...what would they do if something were eating their livelihood? We have a coyote/s that has been doing some damage around our farm. I have seen it come out in broad daylight and grab a chicken. Before I had time to sic the dogs on it, it was gone. The dogs went on a chase, but this dude was long gone with the stupid chicken that didn't listen to the rooster calling his warning to his harem. All the other hens went running to safety near their chickenyard, but nope, not her. Maybe she was the rebellious type :evil:. I know about those ways. So we just get tougher and tougher and build better fences. But then....there is a point where you have to stop. Our neighbour caught the coyote three days ago in broad daylight trying to dig underneath the underground fencing in her chickencoop. She was fit to be tied. I don't doubt that she is going to take things into her own hands. She phoned to warn us of her observation and to keep our dogs away from the outback for a few days. We are willingly complying.

We do not have a gun on our property. As foster parents that is 100% not allowed, this is a safety issue and one of the rules of being a foster parent.

If we had a gun.....well, that would be another story. I am a pretty good pitch with rocks, maybe I would be good with other types of ain. Anyways no qualms about protecting my livestock. Have a wonderful day, keep the vermin from eating your stocks. I certainly don't know what could be done with a coyote that was caught in a pen. Taken somewhere else to eat someone else's criters maybe :) Cindi

ooptec · « **Reply #12 on:** August 09, 2007, 12:11:44 pm »

The more money they have,

The greener they are.

cheers

peter

Kev · « **Reply #13 on:** September 03, 2007, 09:24:35 am »

Quote from: bberry on July 31, 2007, 02:30:39 pm

Any words of advice on trapping or.......

Electric fence keeps all sorts of wild critters where they are supposed to be... in the woods and not in your coop.

woodchopper · « **Reply #14 on:** September 03, 2007, 06:10:50 pm »

Quote from: Kev on September 03, 2007, 09:24:35 am

Quote from: bberry on July 31, 2007, 02:30:39 pm
Any words of advice on trapping or.......

Electric fence keeps all sorts of wild critters where they are supposed to be... in the woods and not in your coop.

Ann and I have electric fence around our hives in Maine. We only go up there every other weekend and have had at least two attempted break-ins by skunks in the past month. One of the skunks must of tried getting into the enclosure between electric pulses because it took enough current to end its life. The one we noticed this past weekend tried to dig under the fabric but didn't get too far before it met Mr. Electricity. :-D

Understudy · « **Reply #15 on:** September 04, 2007, 10:07:49 am »

I fail to understand how a bobcat presents a problem to your bees unless you drive it into the hive.

:-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Cindi · « **Reply #16 on:** September 04, 2007, 11:08:22 am »

Brendhan, ah, ha, ha, ha. You made a funny. Beautiful day, Cindi

wayne · « **Reply #17 on:** September 06, 2007, 06:58:52 pm »

Are you SURE the cat is to blame? A first step in Animal Damage Control is to identify the problem animal. Just seeing one doesn't mean it did the deed.
Call a County Agent or better someone from USDA to inspect the site and confirm the problem.
Cats come to cages readily and no meat is needed, just a commercial lure from any trapper supply store, and a few feathers.
Check with the F&W people about relocation as some states have strict laws on how and where. And this time of year kits should not be a problem.

MarkR · « **Reply #18 on:** September 07, 2007, 08:11:30 am »

I had a bobcat take out my flock last night. It ran when it saw me coming. I went back up to the house to get the proper "tool" to deal with the problem, but it hasn't been back yet. Not sure if I'll be able to dispatch it when/if it comes back. Racoons are one thing. But I couldn't help but notice how beautiful it was even as it was snacking on one of my hens.

Mark

Shawn · « **Reply #19 on:** September 07, 2007, 11:00:01 am »

Try to find someone that traps or a taxidermist. Bobcats are brining in $$$. Not only can you get rid of the problem but make some money on the side.

MarkR · « **Reply #20 on:** September 07, 2007, 06:05:49 pm »

okay, wow, lesson here is always wear your glasses when you're running throught the yard at night after what ever is making your chickens make that awful noise. Judging from nice scat, and the damage to the run, I'd say what my deflicted eyes thought was a bobcat was really a bear. Crap, now what do I do. I have to rebuild the coop AND fence the hive. Good thing it's the weekend.

Mark

Shawn · « **Reply #21 on:** September 07, 2007, 07:30:52 pm »

Ok now I woud say you have a problem. In Colorado the Division of Wildlife could be contacted and they would trap the bear and relocate it. Im no animal expert but if there is food, it got food once, I think it will continue to come back. You should know by the tracks what it is.

Cindi · « **Reply #22 on:** September 08, 2007, 02:57:57 am »

Have no mercy, locate this predator, to where? Another human's problem. Hmmm....Cindi

MarkR · « **Reply #23 on:** September 08, 2007, 10:05:55 am »

Called the Game Warden, he'll get back to me in the next couple of weeks. . . when he has time. . .maybe. I think I'll just deal with this on my own. Cindi, I could relocate him to where he probably came from, but there are about 200 lovely ne McMansions out there. grrrrrrr. Actually, that might work. heh heh heh

Mark

Cindi · « **Reply #24 on:** September 08, 2007, 12:25:06 pm »

Bears. Recently in our area (about 5 km away) a child was playing in her back yard, a bear (single one) came out and began to maul her. The parent was able to get the child away and into their home before any significant damage was done. This bear was known to the area and an officer came out and shot the bear. Obviously had been causing trouble other times, otherwise this bear would have been relocated too. Bears are terrifying animals and we live along a bear path that runs alongside my property. The bears travel along the ravine. It is deep, surrounded by heavy bush and they have not so far ventured up the banks to come onto my property. I think the bears know how many dogs we have and this deters them. But I hear our neighbour yelling at the top of his voice sometimes to go away, and I am sure it is the bear he is shouting at.

One year the bear did come up and eat all my corn in the patch. That was a substantial amount of corn, probably 200 corn stalks. There was a pile of husks left behind, that was weird, and all along the bush I could see where he had made a trail and there were corn stalks scattered along this trail. I think there must have been a couple of them to cause so much damage and eat so much corn. Hmmm...greeedy things, aren't they.

No use for bears. Our neighbour had a bear in her driveway about a month ago, the bear wouldn't get out of her way and she had to sit in the car until it finally decided that it would carry on its merry way. Oh brother. Have a wonderful day, best of our great life. Cindi

Kev · « **Reply #25 on:** September 09, 2007, 07:49:02 pm »

Cindi,

Was that a grizzly (alaskan brown?) bear? If so, very different best from the black bears in the eastern US. Blacks are much more timid.

I still think electric fence is the way to go. I use old beer bottle caps wired to the fence and baited with peanut butter to keep deer and racoons out.

kev

Shawn · « **Reply #26 on:** September 09, 2007, 08:09:46 pm »

MarkR,

Being in law enforcement I have seen the ways on how people get what they want. If the game warden did not help or says he is busy call your local sheriffs office or police department. Tell them you and your property are endanger and see what is done! Granted they might say to call the game warden or there is nothing they can do but, the squeaky wheel gets greesed when it squeaks too much.

MarkR · « **Reply #27 on:** September 09, 2007, 09:25:32 pm »

Actually, he came out last evening on his way home. A very cool gentleman with lots of good suggestions. I do have a 30 day kill permit now, but I'm going to try some other stuff first. So. . . any tried going after a bear with a paint ball gun. He said it wouldn't come after me, but I'll be putting on my track shoes anyway. . . you know. . . just in case.

Interesting thing: they don't relocate bears here in Albemarle County. They do in Shenandoah Nat'l Park and they somehow end up here . . . twenty miles away from the south end of the park. . . hmmmmmm. I would say that my bear didn't have a park tag, but hell, without my glasses I thought it was a cat.

You know, in hind sight, it's good I couldn't tell what I was yelling at. :shock:

Mark

MarkR · « **Reply #28 on:** September 09, 2007, 09:27:06 pm »

Oh yeah, here's the bear confirmation (warning graphic scat shot):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/markrough/1349971103/

Kathyp · « **Reply #29 on:** September 09, 2007, 09:59:03 pm »

markr, suggestion on taking out bear. probably stuff you know......use a weapon adequate for the job and don't stop shooting until it's dead or you can not safely shoot at it any more. black bears are usually not to aggressive, but when you put holes in them, that can change. good luck and keep us posted. :-)

Cindi · « **Reply #30 on:** September 11, 2007, 11:18:38 am »

Kev, was not a grizzly, we have black bears around here. Thank goodness for no grizzly, now that is a scary bear.

What!!!!! Shoot a bear with a paintball. I think that anyone that would do that would be asking for death looking the in the face. Hmmm....every seen an animal in pain, like a bear. I would bet your bottom dollar that that bear would be on a death wish for you, unless you could run faster than him and I doubt that very much.

Kathy is 100% right, shoot to kill and only until there is death. A bear with holes in it in pain, not dead and hurting, is going to hurt you. Lots of stuff to think about.

See what I was talking about when I said relocate the bear? To another person's area. That is the issue with relocating trouble bears, they become someone else's headache. They don't belong around the human being's area. Have a wonderful day, best of our life. Cindi

MarkR · « **Reply #31 on:** November 03, 2007, 03:30:40 pm »

So, I've been really busy since getting out of traction after the bear attack. . . just kidding.

I've just been busy.

The bear and I have developed a respectful attitude with each other. He's been back a few times to snack on spilled chicken feed. I've bombed him with homemade noise makers (cans filled with gravel) and pegged him with a couple of paint balls (I stayed on my deck) and he truly does run away. I think getting hit on the nose and having a yellow nose for a week was probably embarrassing for him. When I got the run repaired I did bait the electric fence. Truly, I think that's mainly why he stays away now. I do see him going around the edges of our property. We sort of give each other leery looks and go our separate ways. (For those of you who are worried for my sanity, I was armed as well, but wanted to try the noise/paint ball idea first).

I hope this continues as I've now got two dozen chicks in the basement and 14 viable eggs in the incubator. I'm not sure why he's never expressed any interest in the hive or the bird feeders, but I did go ahead and fence in the hive while I was refencing the run.

Busy around here. The hive is much slower, though during early afternoons there are still quite a few out flying. It's ready for the cold. We've had a couple of frosts this past week but days are still in the 70's. Ahhhhh.

Happy fall everyone!

Mark

reinbeau · « **Reply #32 on:** November 03, 2007, 07:50:20 pm »

Mark, this is a lesson to everyone with an electric fence and bees (or chickies!!). You've got to bait that wire. A suggestion is sardine tins, partially opened, so you can hang them on the wire. The whole tin will be electrified, and the bear won't be able to resist taking a snack - and then whack! They won't be back after that.

If you don't make sure the bear gets poked first off, he or she will go right through your fence. Unless the wire touches their nose, their fur is so dense the shock won't get to them.

Cindi · « **Reply #33 on:** November 05, 2007, 01:01:40 am »

Mark, good, sounds like things are going great over at your place. Good to hear that stuff. Have a wonderful and great day. Cindi

johnnybigfish · « **Reply #34 on:** November 18, 2007, 10:44:21 pm »

I had to shoot a bobcat this last summer in my pigeon coop. That is a fact about easy meals, Just ask all the Red-tail hawks I've thrown out of my coop. I had an owl once also! He was great! he was a screech owl and he was about the same size as my pigeons. I wouldve left him in there but I figured he'd eat the youngsters at nite so I put him out.
Anyways,when it comes to shooting, you gotta do what you gotta do. I fish...But if the fish laid in the bottom of the boat crying and watching me move around I probably wouldnt fish either. When I was younger I had a different heart, one that was sometimes cruel to animals. I mean, I always loved all kinds of animals but sometimes did stupid stuff..I wont go into that.
Huntings' not my bag.. Ive eaten my chickens and pigeons before but that was because I sometimes had to cut back on population and didnt want to kill for nothing.
Now,...There are people out there who like to shoot coyotes. sometimes justified, sometimes not. I prefer to yell and holler and chase with a stick. Besides, the coyotes cant get up into my coop anyways. But, what REALLY pee'd me off is when you see dead coyotes hung for miles on barbwire fences! The people who do this, I have no use for! Oh, YEH...What do they say?..."Hanging the coyotes makes the other coyotes afraid to come around"...BULLCORN!!Thats just another excuse to kill something.
Anyways,....I better quit ranting and raving on the coyote thing. As a matter of fact, any minute now the coyotes will be calling! I LOVE that old sound! So do my dogs, unfortunately!
yalls friend,
john