| It is spring and farm babies are all around | | | | that coop withstood the predator. |
| us. Those cute little balls of fur or | | | | |
| feathers, as well as the four-legged little | | | | This was devastating to me. I believe you |
| ones are all easy prey for predators. This | | | | get out of an animal what you put into an |
| came to light for us last week when we got up | | | | animal. Some would say my pets and livestock |
| and a coyote was chasing some of our flock. | | | | have it easy. I say my pets give me great |
| They all ran into the pasture with the big | | | | enjoyment and my livestock feeds the family |
| horses. The coyote confused ran into the | | | | well. |
| woods and decided he would try to sneak up | | | | |
| again. This time he was met by humans and | | | | We are no longer at that large farm and have |
| has not been back since. | | | | downsized to a 10-acre farm. When we first |
| | | | moved here, I told my husband I wanted the |
| We have not been so lucky in the past as we | | | | barn to be like Ft. Knox. That did not |
| were last week. Several years ago, I was | | | | happen, but we did shut the calves in at |
| short on time and decided to drive down to | | | | night. |
| feed the animals. I loaded up the three dogs | | | | |
| in the van and off we went. Never in a | | | | Predators will always be a threat but I will |
| million years would I have thought that was | | | | do my best to protect my animals. For those |
| the safest decision I could have made. | | | | five coyotes, only three managed to survive |
| | | | the weekend. The game warden talked with us |
| As the dogs and I approached the barn, there | | | | for quite some time and gave us lots of tips |
| were five coyotes. I laid on the horn and my | | | | as well as the go ahead to eliminate the |
| dogs went berserk. Thank goodness for cell | | | | coyotes. |
| phones. My son could hardly hear me for the | | | | |
| dogs barking. After scaring off the coyotes, | | | | The bobcat was seen on several occasions. |
| I turned around and went back to the house | | | | Once, playing with the bait container the |
| where my son and I kenneled the dogs for | | | | guys left in the tank overnight. My son went |
| their safety. Then we went back to the barn | | | | to get it the next morning and there was that |
| to access the damage. The coyotes won that | | | | bobcat batting that container around with its |
| night-two calves, all my ornamental | | | | paws having a good old time. My son chased |
| pheasants, and some of my regular pheasants. | | | | it away with the truck then went fishing. |
| They could not get in the turkey coop or the | | | | |
| chicken coop. The next night either a bobcat | | | | For me, I will leave the coyotes and other |
| or a raccoon literally tore through the | | | | predators alone, as long as they leave me and |
| one-inch chicken wire and only my rooster | | | | my animals alone. |
| survived. The turkey was lucky-once again, | | | | |