[Jacob-list] Bobcat!

[Brenda]

The trapper here said there is no fence a cougar can't go over and a coyote can't go under. His advice was to persuade the predator that it would be safer or easier to catch a bunny or a fawn. I am sure the same goes for your bobcat. The trappers work for the USDA, and are not allowed to harm animals that are not preying on livestock or threatening people. But the minute you have a kill, they CAN act. Get a phone number now and tell them you have concerns so they'll be ready to back you up. Your trapper might come and walk the property with you and make suggestions, like removing vegetation near your fence so they can't sneak in as easily. Our trapper has a keen sense of where the predator approaches are, so the more you can make that area intimidating the better your odds it will just go around your property. A guard animal e.g. llama might be helpful. If you DO have a kill, try to get the trapper out right away. If the trapper can't get there, take lots of pics of the kill site, then try to get the carcass in a freezer for later exam. The fact that you have seen bobcats doesn't eliminate the need to rule out a different perpetrator such as dogs. Owners of dogs that kill livestock have big liability, although collecting on it can be difficult.

Brenda
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: im rapunzil 
  To: kenleighacres at yahoo.com ; Jacob List 
  Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 5:59 AM
  Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Bobcat!


  Oh no!  I'm so upset now!  Can anyone advise me how I can protect my sheep & goats, other than my gentleman friend shooting it?  I have post and rail fencing with wire sheep fence attached to it, but the bobcat was able to get through/over the fence.
  Cindy

  You live by writing your poems on a farm
  and call that farming.

   

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:46:42 -0700
  From: kenleighacres at yahoo.com
  Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Bobcat!
  To: im-rapunzil at hotmail.com; jacob-list at jacobsheep.com


  I know a farm that raises Boer goats and they had full grown does being taken down by bobcats.  They would attack and grap the jugular and hang on until the does went down and died.  They would then eat ONLY the mammary tissue.  They trapped a handful of bobcats and now they have a pair of Anatolians.  Haven't had any problems since.  Before I heard this, I didn't think a bobcat could take down a full grown goat or sheep.  Hopefully you don't have any problems!  
   
  Shannon Phifer
  Kenleigh Acres Farm
  www.kenleigh-acres.com
  That'll Do Photography
  www.thatlldo.photoreflect.com
   






------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  From: im rapunzil <im-rapunzil at hotmail.com>
  To: Jacob List <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
  Sent: Mon, August 30, 2010 5:41:41 PM
  Subject: [Jacob-list] Bobcat!

  Well turns out this evening around 6:30 PM my gentleman friend saw a bobcat slinking around in the sheep/goat pasture.
   
  My lambs are half grown, but goats much smaller - pygmy's that are only 10 weeks.  I figured not to chance it and brought all of them in the barn for the night.  
   
  Now my question is  When my lambs and goats are full-grown, can a bobcat still take one down?

  You live by writing your poems on a farm
  and call that farming.


   













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