[AlpacaTalk] Re: Bobcat!
Janice,
It was a difficult choice to kill her, she'd been stalking our
property for a month or two and had already killed one chicken,
however, when I found her in the barn... That said--it is very
unlikely that a bobcat would go after a full grown alpaca. They
primarily eat rodents, rabbits, and things of that size. However, if
the alpaca tried to stomp the bobcat, it would defend itself, which
is likely how yours got hurt. If the bobcat was inside the fenceline,
I'd do some serious walking of the line to find out how it got in--
mine came in under the fence where my house cats dug themselves an
indentation to get more easily to the catnip which decided to grow
outside the fence... Holes under the fence, gates, and overhanging
tree branches are the most likely routes. Fix 'em and the cat likely
won't bother--it isn't hunting the alpacas but the rodents and birds.
In my area, the only reason the bobcat was so close to the house was
we are overrun with them and hunting is scarce--a barn with
scrumptious mice/chipmunks seems like an easy meal. The rodents are
there b/c it is safe and there is grain spill since I've had the
housecats (rodent hunters) and chickens (grain spill cleaners) locked
up since I saw the bobcat--an evil circle :)
Anyway, IMO, you have more to fear from the wrong type of dog (no b/c
it is a pound dog, but b/c of the prey drive most breeds that end up
in the pound have) than the bobcat. Work on securing the property.
Just a thought..
Morgen
--- In AlpacaTalk@yahoogro
>
> <<I've gotten slightly more practiucal since. We had to shoot a
bobcat
> that was IN MY BARN!!! the other night. My bf and a friend did skin
> that and now it's (ugh!) in my freezer until we find a tannery.
> Still, the emotional connection isn't there...
> >>
>
>
> OK, speaking of bobcats, just before/almost dusk last night,
standing at
> the kitchen sink I saw something I could not quite identify walking
the
> back horse pasture fence. Alarmed enough to grab my binoculars and
lo
> and behold just as I feared it was a sizable bobcat strolling just
> inside the fence line headed towards the woods. Holy cow. I no
longer
> have any doubts about what happened to my duck and alpacas this
summer
> (the horrible neck wounds and the eye slashed a few weeks later).
>
> I remembered Morgen saying this (above); but this guy was gone
before I
> could have gotten it together to even find my gun, ammo, and get
out
> there. It's been so long since I shot a gun anyway I couldn't have
hit
> him. But not sure I have could actually done it anyway. I have
never
> killed a living creature and used to care for exotic cats at an
exotic
> animal sanctuary in S FL. But if it had to come down to a choice
> between my alpacas and the bobcat, well that is a no brainer.
>
> Every outside light I have was left on last night. I didn't sleep
a
> wink and couldn't wait to get up and out this morning to check on
> everyone. All is well. But I will not rest easy now. Back to
> considering pasture dogs; but what info I gathered this summer
after the
> severe injuries was so mixed as to make to stop considering.
Wonder if
> just some yard dogs from the Rescue would work good enough, and not
risk
> having something actually in with the livestock?
>
> I am wondering about seeing him out and about before dark? Once I
saw a
> fox cross my property in broad daylight and was told he was likely
rabid
> as foxes don't normally come out in the daytime; or that he was
starving
> and seeking food for him/herself or babies.
>
> Warmly, Janice
>
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posted by Chaddo at 1:43 PM
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