Bobcat in my Yard.

[Nyboy]

Today when I went out to feed my hens a bobcat was crossing my lawn. I live in the city so this is very rare. A lady around the coner said she saw one watching her koi. I was hoping I might see him but didnt give it much of a chance. I know they can be a big problem for some chicken owners, but mine only freerange when I am out with them. What a beautiful animal, I was surprized at his size he was much bigger then my dogs.

 

[Carol Dee]

COOL

 

[Ridgerunner]

A lady I got hatching eggs from last spring lives out in the middle of not much and free ranges her chickens. She said she loses about 30% of them each year to predators. But they totally free range, she does not buy feed for them but lets them forage for themselves, and they go broody a fair amount and hatch out a lot of chicks. For her, it's an efficient operation. Those kind of losses would bother me.

She said she's seen a bobcat outside her kitchen window, just walk up next to the house and take a chicken in the middle of the day. Her back yard is pretty much the woods and her front yard is a creek bed. It is a beautiful setting.

 

[Jared77]

Thats too cool! Ive never seen in person. I'd love to. I'm not surprised though soon as the coyotes started coming into suburban areas, I figured other predators wouldn't be far behind.

 

[so lucky]

I haven't seen one since I was about 8. I was playing in the woods by myself and came upon one. I don't know which of us was more terrified!

 

[catjac1975]

I would love to see one. Would it eat coyotes?

 

[so lucky]

I doubt it; they are not that big. But we are having more and more mountain lion sightings around here, so maybe one of those would take care of a coyote!

 

[catjac1975]

Yea, take care of us too! I'm sure when this continent was wild coyotes must have had a natural predator.

 

[Smiles Jr.]

Yea, take care of us too! I'm sure when this continent was wild coyotes must have had a natural predator.

I think a coyote's most successful natural predator would be tiny worms and disease. Many years ago I studied the coyote population in the mid-west and found out that most coyotes die from parasites.

 

[catjac1975]

Interesting-thanks for the info. I always wondered how the larger predator's population was controlled.

Yea, take care of us too! I'm sure when this continent was wild coyotes must have had a natural predator.

I think a coyote's most successful natural predator would be tiny worms and disease. Many years ago I studied the coyote population in the mid-west and found out that most coyotes die from parasites.