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Phillip, I sell netting that would keep eagles or any other bird out, just need to get several to cover where the fawns are. Give me a call and lets talk if this is indeed the case, I can help.
Fear of big cat on the prowl
- Thread starter ANTLER VALLEY
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Phillip - I'm currently waiting on a return call from a friend that is a wildlife biologist out west, and has been involved in numerous lion studies, and is considered an expert in his field. Gonna pick his brain to see if he has any ideas that will help you with your problem. Talked to his Dad this morning who guided lion hunters out west for 30 years, and he referred me to his son. If there is any question you would have me ask him in particular, let me know. He is a no nonsense kind of guy that will only tell you like it is. And on a phone call with him earlier this am that was interupted, he staightened me out, as you did, that there are indeed lions in your state. Let me know if you have questions. I'll get back with you when he does with me.
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I'm afraid to say mountain lions can be about anywhere in the country these days. Here is one that had traveled from here in SD 1400 miles across the country and was probably only spotted by a few people if that. For years they "over educated office biologists" told us they didn't exist here and now the lion population is so out of control they have had to reduce the number of deer and elk licenses for the western side of the state. In Rapid City SD they have confirmed sightings and problem cats every few weeks and where I live out here on the prarie farm country its a yearly problem with venturing young males attacking livestock usually in the winter. I know of 2 others that were radio collared and traveled more then 1,000 miles down the Missouri river drainage. Interesting stuff so don't count the cats out just yet, lions food of choice is deer. Good luck
http://www.keloland.com/NewsDetail6162.cfm?Id=118682
http://www.keloland.com/NewsDetail6162.cfm?Id=118682
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Phillip - Just got off the phone with my friend Chuck, the biologist. As Henry suggested in an earlier post, electric fence is probably the best medicine for prevention. Chuck had nothing else to offer in the way of prevention. He gave me a web site for you to view - www.cougarnet.org Chuck, as well as his dad, both said they had never heard of or seen evidence of a lion taking their kill up in a tree. They cache and bury their kill, come back to eat, each time re-burying till it is gone. They do this to keep the birds from finding it, and dragging their kills up in a tree certainly would not accomplish this. That being said, we all know there is always that ''exception to the rule'' Hope your fawns stay safe! It's so tuff to lose them!
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sdbigbucks said:
My biologist friend Chuck spoke of this lion you did. It was collared in the Black Hills of South Dakota and got hit on the road in Conneticut state. It was a dispersing young male that evidently went the wrong direction(east) in search of a female. Like you said, they can show up about anywhere.
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The only question I have is whether it can be successfully baited since it kills its own prey, and would it be possible for one to be hanging around and not leave any signs? No scratched trees, no prints at the creek/ponds...also, would it be easy to entertain the idea that a cat could get over the fence and take a fawn back out with him? The only clues I have to go on is the scratched up doe, the handfull of belly hair from the fawn, and 4 missing with no other signs. I would like to see him move on and prove what their range might be!
Im very against leaving poison out to indiscriminately kill, but I also understand your frustration with the loss of animals. May I suggest a trapping plan? Large cats typically use a game trail, and if you can locate suspiscious use patterns heading toward your pens, a step over blind trap set would take either cats or coyotes. A very good cat set is called a post set. Its where cats mark with scent. Dump yours and your neighbors dirty kitty litter box litter at a site where the cat likely frequents, and make your trap set there. Cats are very competitive predators and attempt to run off others. Youve already been given a lot of good advice and info from others in here. I too would opt for a hot wire barrier for all pests, over any type of poison.