[Jacob-list] predator question

[Carl Fosbrink]

Thanks for sharing your story. I am glad we haven't had problems with mountain lions and bears here yet. There have been a couple of sightings of both, but I haven't seen any . It always helps to have the best fencing you can get. They have a sheep and goat fence now that has smaller holes than a woven wire fence and it is always good to have some electric wire along the top too.


From: Marilyn McBirney 
Sent: Monday, October 08, 2012 10:29 PM
To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 
Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] predator question


Hi all,

Unfortunately I have predator stories to share.  My experience with predators is that coyotes and foxes will tear open a larger carcass and eat it there - wounds/open around the belly and neck.  Smaller lambs (and goats) have disappeared without a trace.  Another time I had goats at my mothers place a mile away - she couldn't find 2,  6 mo old kids and called me for help - I found them floating in the pond, under an overhanging tree, partially hidden - my thought was they were chased in there, drowned and coyotes couldn't get them.   I set up a night camera (like hunters use to find a good place to hunt - see Cabella's) to see what was coming around and got some great photos of coyotes, some of foxes - suspected they were scavengers, and raccoons passing by.     Also had an adult ewe killed, clear holes in skin at her throat - classic throat hold kill and I suspected mountain lion, or a major predator that knew what it was doing.  Mountain lions weren't around supposedly then.  The carcass (100 lbs) was dragged about 40 feet to the darkness under a tree, the rest of the pasture more open and illuminated.  Later that month there were reports among other farmers that a mountain lion female and ½ grown cub had been killed a mile away.  I'm sure that ewe was a mountain lion kill.   Initially I had Colorado Div of Wildlife come out and check - they said dogs tend to go for the rear - tearing up around the anus/tail.  Coyotes go for the throat and belly.  Since they don't pay for damage by these species the info was readily available.   Another friend had an attack her Barbados sheep - lost 10 at once! DOW checked it out and there were murmurs of coyote and mountain lion but DOW pays for mtn lion damage and there wasn't enough evidence that it was mountain lion.  She has since purchased to LGD and had no problems- other than they do bark frequently J.   

 

Which predator depends on your cover, location near wilder areas - in my case the Arkansas River, how familiar the animals are with humans, how desperate the predators are, etc.  I would think coyotes would be a good possibility for your situation based on my 20+ years here.  Sorry for your loss - it's always been a shock and distressing each time it happens.  I currently don't have any sheep or goats due to predator problems (and alfalfa hay costs $8-10/ sm bale now!!- that's what is grown around here).  I think I'll just lock them in a barn. then last year a veterinarian friend in the foothills lost 8 goats to black bears breaking into her barn while they were on vacation and the dogs (house pets but would raise the alarm) were locked inside.  Fortunately bears haven't made it this far downstream. yet.    A young moose made it into the west side of town the other day (!).  I love having the wildlife and know to take precautions but.!  As I re read this it sounds like a lot but this is over 22 years with a problem then years of no problems, then a problem, years without - it just cycles, probably based on how riled up everyone gets about their livestock and eliminating the problem. for a while. 

Good luck!

Marilyn McBirney

Rising Sun Farm,  Pueblo   Colorado

 

General Curator

Pueblo Zoo 

   

   

  From: jacob-list-bounces at jacobsheep.com [mailto:jacob-list-bounces at jacobsheep.com] On Behalf Of Karen Askounis
  Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2012 11:41 PM
  To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
  Subject: [Jacob-list] predator question

   

  For those of you who have lost sheep to coyotes is it common to have almost nothing remaining after the attack? I have lost two ram lambs (one at a time) - the first one simply was gone without a trace! No blood, no wool, no wool or hair over or under fences - nothing. The second one - as is usually the case - my most favorite sheep of all time L - found one piece of hide, some bits of wool, his tail, no blood anywhere in pasture, again no wool or hair on any exterior fences. These were ram lambs about 6 months old. They were in with a donkey. Not sure if I should be mad at the donkey or happy he kept losses to one lamb each time. This pasture had a hot wire across the top but no lower predator hot wire (until last weekend, after the fact of course). There were a few spots where the ground had washed away a bit under the fence leaving some space under the fence where I figure they got in. Does this sound like a pack of coyotes or should I be looking for something else? We are in north eastern Illinois. Not sure what other predators to be thinking of.

   

  On a slightly different subject - does anyone think sheep with un-docked tails are easier for predators to catch??

   

  Karen Askounis

  Three Fates Farm

  Crete, IL

  kaskounis at threefatesjacobs.com

   


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