[Jacob-list] predator question

[marguerite van beek]

Susan

They say the same thing about Mountain Lions over here in NJ.  They don't
exist, yet they have many reported sightings throughout NJ. Our vet several
yrs ago and a few miles from our farm went out on a emergency call for a
reported attack on two horses.  The State kept stating it was a bear
attack, the vet who was from S. Dakota said you are sadly mistaken this was
done by a mountain Lion (horses had claw marks down their hind end) then
they said that he had to keep quiet about this and they did ended up
catching a breeding pair.  But they still say they don't exist.  You can't
protect your sheep from a mountain lion almost impossible.

Peggy

On Fri, Sep 28, 2012 at 2:38 PM, Richard and Susan <stcroft at ptd.net> wrote:


> Here in southeastern Pennsylvania an occasional coyote attack on sheep

> will occur.  A few yrs. ago a farmer lost several adult ewes to a group of

> coyotes at a location not far from us – and we have heard coyotes calling

> at night but have never lost any sheep.  Interestingly, here throughout the

> state there are many reported sightings of mountain lions but the

> Pennsylvania Game Commission is adamant that they don’t exist.  We have

> never seen one or had a problem – however, a farmer only a few miles from

> us occasionally sees a mountain lion drinking from his pond.  Upstate the

> mountain folks who know the woods like the “backs of their hands” are

> equally adamant that they repeatedly see mountain lions – which really are

> not easy to confuse with other wild feline types in our State – our bobcats

> are quite a bit smaller with no tail, etc.  All that to say that any

> shepherd or farmer who complains to our state’s Game Commission of a

> mountain lion killing will not receive a lot of support – since they don’t

> exist!****

>

> ** **

>

> A few years ago we had an adult ewe killed by a neighbor’s Siberian Husky

> – the dog was not aggressive to humans but sheep brought out his primal

> instincts – and in that situation the dog was interested only in the chase

> and the kill – he did not tear open the carcass or eat anything

> whatsoever.  He also wounded a ewe lamb so severely she had to be

> euthanized.  Our local police advised us that our State laws permit us to

> shoot on sight any animal that is killing out livestock.  This particular

> dog was a family pet, very sweet to humans and a nice dog – but the State

> Dog Catcher required that they relinquish ownership and the husky was put

> into a husky rescue – and hopefully he ended up living somewhere far from

> sheep!!****

>

> ** **

>

> Sue Martin****

>

> Stonecroft****

>

> ** **

>

> ** **

>

> ** **

>

> ** **

>

> *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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