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Predators

After giving some thought to what my next article should be I arrived at one I found to be most appropriate, given that I just experienced a little more than the usual predator issues.

Predators come in all shapes and sizes, some learn quickly, others make the same mistake. They come from the skies, the forests, the brush piles, and even the streams. These creatures all have one thing in common, the desire to kill. How can one ever be prepared for all of this? First research what predators are in your area, and what they potentially feed on. Learn about when and how they hunt, then begin to design a plan around that.

The usual suspects:

Opossums: Some people think they only eat eggs, but don’t be fooled by this, opossums are scavengers and opportunists. If given an easy target, they will make a dinner out of almost anything. In the picture bellow you will see a mother and her babies all in one live trap. Sadly the best thing to do in this situation is to kill them, because as cute as they are now, they will grow up. Personally I could not bring myself to do that, and now I will have to deal with them again.

Raccoons: They look slow and lazy, but can be absolutely savage. They are very much like opossums in their eating habits, also scavenging for food. Raccoons can be most unpredictable, and therefore caution should be taken when encountering them. People make such a fuss over rabies, and they don’t realize that raccoons carry many more diseases too, which are in the feces and saliva. I have lost many birds to raccoons, but it was only out of stupidity.

The simplest way to deal with raccoons and opossums is to always keep the barns and pens closed before dark. I like leaving live animal traps out around the barn, using a few eggs for bait. What you do with your catch the next morning is up to you. Another one of my favorite predator control methods is fly bait mixed with cola in a pie pan. This powerful stuff kills quickly, and should only be used at night. Lock all pets in for the night, as I have heard so much as a teaspoon full killed a grown dalmatian. Clean up any dead coons and possums first thing in the morning to prevent other animals or pets from eating them and also dieing.

Weasels: These little guys are clever, and unfortunately take pleasure in killing. After they get their fill they don’t stop; just keep on going until there is nothing left to kill. Once they know where your flock is, they will keep returning. They come out to hunt in the very early morning, and hunt in families of 5-12 members. There isn’t really a quick fix for weasels, they are very small and can squeeze into almost any hole. In my experience the expanding foam used to seal window frames has worked well to mend any holes or cracks, but make sure you do not purchase the type that is water-soluble. There are weasel traps, but I have yet to find one that works.

Minks: Very similar to weasels, and odds are if you live near a stream you will have minks in the area. Minks are larger than weasels and hunt in smaller groups. They have the same “trigger happy” mind as weasels, or so to speak. They take pleasure in killing. There are mink traps, which I believe are very much the same as weasel traps.

Coyotes: These are simple to keep out, just close up the barn at night; where they are trouble is near the edges of the forest during dusk and dawn. Have a rooster around that keeps a good eye on predators, or keep your birds penned. I have only had to deal with a coyotes twice, and luckily both were young and easily scared off.

Foxes: Again, just keep the barns closed before dark and until it is light, you shouldn’t have a problem. Keep any holes boarded up.

Hawks: Everyone thinks it’s those huge red tailed hawks soaring overhead that take their birds, but more often it is a sly cooper’s hawk. Cooper’s hawks can be found through out North America. They hang out in the out-skirts of the forest, always just out of view. Simply put poultry netting on top of all cages, I would recommend 40 pound test, because raccoons too may try to get in through the top. If you have continuous trouble with hawks, don’t shoot them. Locate a falconer with a capture permit and see if they are willing to trap it. It is illegal to shoot hawks, and illegal to trap them with out the proper permits.

Rats and mice can be predators too, not so much the mice, but the rats will take small chicks in a flash. Do not use poison for these though. I know you are likely thinking, “Well why not? You poison a rat, which gets eaten by a hawk, which dies and gets eaten by a raccoon, which dies and gets eaten by a coyote that also then dies too!” That is the worst thing you can do, because once those predators are gone, (the ones which help control pests like mice and rats, and the larger ones that will eat coons and possums too), you will be in over your head. I have found that if done correctly you can use predators to your advantage. Simply mix some corn with dry cement in a pan, (where your pets can’t get to it) and most of the rats and mice will die, and best of all un-poisoned; the hawks can then safely eat them. The hawks and owls, knowing where the food source is will stick around, and help control the mice population. Most animals, such as possums and raccoons fear hawks and owls, and will be less tempted to come around. Snakes also eat mice, and weasels avoid snakes at all cost.

And if there is nothing you have gotten out of this article, I hope you can use this: A bit of practical prevention can go a long way.