I spotted a predator on my property today...in early afternoon. I wouldn't mind if it was just there for water or to munch on deer feed. But I'm pretty sure it was there trying to catch a chicken, or maybe a cat. There are feral chickens that hang around here frequently. When I first went out in the morning the rooster and hen couple were up in a tree branch in my yard, not a usual place for them. Later when I put out birdseed they were in the veggie garden foraging...a little unusual for them to be there, the rooster doesn't like to be inside the yard. In early afternoon I went out to put more water out on the side of the property which is my wildlife feeding & water area. That's where it was, under a cedar tree. Probably wouldn't have seen if, but it moved. At first glance I could only see it was a small animal, but then saw it better...a fox! It left, but might be lurking nearby, waiting. I had noticed that there were less feral chickens coming around to eat. Only two roosters and a hen lately. Used to be 5 roosters and a hen a month ago. Very few survive. The second rooster is still around...saw it later.

The first year or two we lived here, I would see a fox running around the neighborhood in the early dawn hours or on the trail when I was walking. I haven't seen it (them) for a year or so.

The city council just recently passed an ordinance allowing up to five chickens on residential lots. We'll see what happens ... not only in attracting predators, but also introducing a feral chicken population within the city limits. It's bound to happen since the ordinance also bans slaughter. So when they outlive their usefulness, some will most certainy be turned loose. I still want some chickens though. I'd love to collect fresh eggs every day. Pros and cons to just about everything, it seems.

I hear it's mostly the adult males that people usually want to get rid of...and often end up as dinner. They can be loud (doesn't bother us, however) and of no use as far as eggs...unless you want a father for chicks, of course. And the roosters can fight with each other sometimes. If I had a chicken coop or something, I wouldn't mind keeping some hens for egg-laying.

Yes, roosters are not allowed by the ordinance ... only hens.

It's been really hot this week. The wildlife seems to be more stressed out when this happens...and no rain for 3 weeks now. I spotted the fox when I was going out to put out more birdseed in the afternoon. Imagine a fox being out during the day!

Nice photos, Linda. I have been missing our coyotes this year. We had what sounded like a large den down in our bottomland, but I haven't heard or seen any for at least 3 months now, and the rabbits are noticeably multiplying. No clue what may have happened to them.

Maybe the available prey was getting low, so they relocated where there was more plentiful food! I don't even want to think about what the foxes are eating around here...other than what I put out, of course! The doe prefers what I put out for birds to the deer feed, although she will eat some of it. The raccoon raids the bird feeders at night...and lately during the day also. But it'll eat most anything also...filched catfood being its favorite food.

We typically go through rather loose cycles of rabbit-years followed by coyote-years, then again. I am rather guessing this is a rabbit-year and perhaps the reason I was actively seeing coyotes in late winter is they were roaming closer to humans in search of food and perhaps many of them didn't make it through till spring. I'm not aware of any recent development that would displace them, although there are a lot of folks who don't like coyotes and there may have been some trapping. I'm OK with less predators this year as I have young chickens and next year they will be larger and smarter (as smart as a chicken can be...)

I live in the mountains of northern California. Yes, there are plenty of predators in the area. Cougars are regularly relocated, or, if deemed necessary, shot. Bears are always a problem and our local dump had to be turned into a weigh station and the garbage has to be trucked out because that's where the bears wanted to hang out. Ooops !

But the purpose of my post is to give a heads up. If you see a nocturnal animal, like a fox, in daylight, be very, very cautious. Annually, our local newspaper publishes an article about this and rabies every year. According to studies quoted in the article ... which I don't have at hand ... more often than not a nocturnal animal seen in daylight will be rabid.

Unfortunately, I am not exaggerating. Last year, a friend of mine had to go through rabies treatment because he was nipped by a fox when he was trying to protect his "outside" cat. He hunted down the fox and shot him and took the dead animal in for testing and began rabies treatment before the test results were back. The fox was rabid.

I guess what I am trying to share is that it may not be wise to think these animals are just after food and water.

Lyn

It must be noted too that if there is extreme weather such as drought it may drive animals out to seek water or food when they would otherwise not be seen, especially if they are feeding young. Also know that foxes are not strictly nocturnal animals. It is an omnivore so it eats meat and fruits just like us!

http://www.nhptv.org/naturewor...

Claudia ... you are right. I was just sharing a note of caution.

Smiles,
Lyn

Hi folks! I just found this thread. It's a Rabbit Year in this part of the world. I can look out of my window at any time of day and see a baby bunny or two (thank goodness I have plenty of dandelions for them to eat) and they are so darn cute! Usually, the foxes and coyotes keep the rabbit numbers down, but I have not seen a fox or heard the coyotes howling for over a month now. Rabies is not common this area. However, canine distemper and mange are rampant. The distemper is killing not only the foxes and coyotes, but also raccoons and skunks. If only there was a way to innoculate the wildlife!

Welcome June! I'm just now hearing coyotes again, but not nearly as many as we usually have. Haven't seen one for months.

Welcome June! Foxes and Coyotes to keep the bunny population in check seems like a good thing to me. Otherwise just to many of them.

We don't have a bunny problem here. When they come around, they usually become dinner for something pretty soon. Chickens too. I still miss the feral chickens that used to hang around here. We do have squirrels, however. Pets disappearing has been a frequent problem in the subdivision. When the pet isn't found and no no body is found, it's usually larger dogs or some other predator, such as foxes or large cats...bobcats, maybe.

Our neighbor directly below us just shot a bobcat with one of his chickens in its mouth (perfectly legal to do in our state) a few days ago. I have never seen one on our property, and we've been here for over 30 years. Glad he got it, they've been struggling with chicken predators, while I've had none. I did assume whatever was getting their birds would head to my coop next, and have been diligently locking them in at night. Read up on bobcats a bit, and find they are both solitary and territorial, and also quite a healthy population with a wide range. Their usual meal of choice is rabbits.

Oh My. I am so glad I don't have to deal with these kinds of things. Bobcats are beautiful but the chickens need to be safe.

Those wild cats are usually nocturnal and good at avoiding being seen by people.

Linda... for the most part I do agree with you, but there are some exceptions.

You might want to read the last part of this thread posted a couple of weeks ago.

The thread "Please help me ID this weed" in Plant ID forum

The dang bear, named Weed, is still fishing in my friend's pond and still chowing down on my friend's garden
even tho' he is not welcome.

Smiles,
Lyn

They still come around on occasion, even in broad daylight! It's not afraid of me when I'm far enough away from it.