What is killing these animals???

[Xanthoria]

@S1969

I would bet you do have coyotes.

Agreed.

@S1969

I have cats and coyotes and have never had problems. Most coyotes are looking for easier prey than cats - which, unless declawed, are not going to be easy to kill/eat.

Ah, no - sorry: coyote will happily eat cats and small dogs. Here in the west coast where coyote are smaller in size, at my barn a lot of barn cats have vanished over the years, and in the last month alone three dogs were preyed upon.

One chased a coyote that as luring it to the woods before the owner caught it, another was grabbed out of her parked car window by two coyotes (she managed to save it) and the third… only his paw was found.

I found another paw recently too - was canine and would have been a midsized dog.

We no longer have foxes as a result. I do kinda prefer to see coyotes around though - if they disappear I know the mountain lions are around!

[Scribbler]

Here in West coast suburbs, we have a big population of coyotes and black bears, a few bobcats, and a growing number of cougars. In general if they aren’t actively threatening people they are increasingly left alone. Not however a lot of deer.

Coyotes do lure dogs and then the pack kills them.

You don’t even know they are around until a fire truck goes by at night and they all howl back at the siren. Apparently they are right up close in my townhouse development that backs on a green belt.

There seems to be a trend across North America for wildlife to be moving back into areas where they haven’t been seen for a century, or into urban areas. We have skunk and raccoons nesting right in the city.

[S1969]

@Xanthoria

Agreed.

Ah, no - sorry: coyote will happily eat cats and small dogs. Here in the west coast where coyote are smaller in size, at my barn a lot of barn cats have vanished over the years, and in the last month alone three dogs were preyed upon.

One chased a coyote that as luring it to the woods before the owner caught it, another was grabbed out of her parked car window by two coyotes (she managed to save it) and the third… only his paw was found.

I found another paw recently too - was canine and would have been a midsized dog.

We no longer have foxes as a result. I do kinda prefer to see coyotes around though - if they disappear I know the mountain lions are around!

Sure, I believe that they will go for cats or dogs. I don’t know that it would be their first choice though. Rabbits, mice and moles are plentiful and easy to get around here, and cats few and far between. I don’t imagine a coyote deciding to enter my yard or barnyard to try to try to kill one of my cats for dinner unless they were desperate.

I suppose if I didn’t have dogs, and had cats in a more accessible area (like an open hay shed or something), coyotes might consider it worth the effort to try. My point was that I would not be worried about coyotes in the area because of cats - the coyotes are probably already there, and cats wouldn’t necessarily be the first option if easier options existed (like cat food, garbage, grain, mice/rodents in the barnyard, etc.)

[vxf111]

So I don’t know what THIS was but it was NOT SMALL. My collie is on the large size for a female but not at all male collie sized, for perspective.

My dog was acting nervous. Usually when she smells something fun to chase (deer, rabbit, skunk, etc.) she gets very excited. When she discovered the fox den she had a “there’s a cat in there” reaction-- whining for it to come out, excited but not “chase a prey animal excitement.”

In contrast today when we found this… half carcass… she just seemed nervous and walk around this part of the pasture slowly seeming anxious

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I’ve been going out at night trying to hear noises but haven’t heard anything.

Once I get a chance to research I am going to buy a game camera. Unless someone has a recommendation for a relatively inexpensive one

[S1969]

Hmm… I’m thinking maybe birds - possibly an owl for that one. Coyotes would definitely eat the bones, or at least, the carcass might be more scattered as they ate some of the bones. Do you know if this is happening at night or is it possibly during the day? If during the day I might guess turkey vultures to pick it clean like that but leave the bones behind.

[vxf111]

@S1969

Hmm… I’m thinking maybe birds - possibly an owl for that one. Coyotes would definitely eat the bones, or at least, the carcass might be more scattered as they ate some of the bones. Do you know if this is happening at night or is it possibly during the day? If during the day I might guess turkey vultures to pick it clean like that but leave the bones behind.

This seems to be primarily happening at night

[Simkie]

@vxf111

I’ve been going out at night trying to hear noises but havOnce I get a chance to research I am going to buy a game camera. Unless someone has a recommendation for a relatively inexpensive one

I have several, and I’m cheap. I look for something 14MP or better, around 70$, on Amazon. They’ve all done well, I don’t think brand matters much unless you’re looking to pay more. Pay attention to the card type it takes…my last pair takes a micro SD card rather than a SD card, and that was a bit of a surprise.

I’ve found that the 12 MP cameras are a pretty big, disappointing, downgrade in picture quality. Best to stick with 14.

I set mine to take two photos and an 8 second video. With 16GB cards, I’ve never run out of room. Having both pics and video is really handy when you’re trying to identify something.

[vxf111]

I’m going to actually revise and say I don’t know when these kills are happening (time of day). I have mostly been walking back there in the AM and that’s when I discover them, but I don’t go every day so they could be happening during the day and I don’t discover them for more than 24 hours

[vxf111]

Does this look about right?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Stealth-Cam-8MP-14-IR-Emitter-Hunting-Game-Trail-Camera-with-Video-8GB-SD-Card/853569531

[Simkie]

@vxf111

Does this look about right?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Stealth-Cam-8MP-14-IR-Emitter-Hunting-Game-Trail-Camera-with-Video-8GB-SD-Card/853569531

Nope, that’s 8 MP. It’s going to suck. My 12 MP cams are pretty bad, I can’t even imagine 8. You’re also not going to see much in the dark with so few IR bulbs.

The last set I bought look like these and they’ve really done well.

[vxf111]

@Simkie

Nope, that’s 8 MP. It’s going to suck. My 12 MP cams are pretty bad, I can’t even imagine 8. You’re also not going to see much in the dark with so few IR bulbs.

The last set I bought look like these and they’ve really done well.

Getting it. And when I am done with this mystery, I am going to use it to spy on my horses in the dark thank you

[Simkie]

@vxf111

Getting it. And when I am done with this mystery, I am going to use it to spy on my horses in the dark thank you

They’re a blast to have around–we’re up to 7 cams. :yes: ALL SORTS of interesting things happen when you’re not there to see! :lol:

Do note that cam takes a micro SD card (rather than an SD card) and will need 8 AA batteries

[EmilyM]

Report back. I’m dying to know what the answer is!

[vxf111]

@Simkie

Do note that cam takes a micro SD card (rather than an SD card) and will need 8 AA batteries

So, um, how do I get the photos off?

[Simkie]

@vxf111

So, um, how do I get the photos off?

You take the micro SD card out of the cam, put it in the little adapter thing the card comes with, and stick it in the SD card reader in your computer.

If you don’t have an SD card reader, you can either buy one (SD card to usb) or take the cam inside and connect it to your computer. It comes with a USB cord to hook it up.

There’s a little screen inside the cam so you can look at pics without talking the cam inside.

My routine is to go collect all the cards on the weekend, bring them in, review and save anything interesting to my computer, and delete the cards. Then they go back outside. I only handle the cams once a week figuring that keeps my smell and influence to a minimum? No idea if it really makes a difference, but I don’t want to scare off anything interesting.

I do have one cam on the chickens that gets reviewed and deleted daily. Unless there’s something interesting, I just do that outside.

Oh, and format the card before you put the cam out. It’s an option in the cam’s menu

[beowulf]

the peanut gallery is dying for an update!

edit: i tagged the wrong person - oops!

[vxf111]

Game camera hasn’t arrived yet!

But I had DH mow the field and have been walking it with the dog more regularly and no new large carcasses have arrived.

BUT… this morning there was a dissected dead baby rabbit RIGHT OUTSIDE THE BARN (where I’ve seen the fox kits) and the cat has an alibi!!!

[keysfins]

@vxf111

Game camera hasn’t arrived yet!

But I had DH mow the field and have been walking it with the dog more regularly and no new large carcasses have arrived.

BUT… this morning there was a dissected dead baby rabbit RIGHT OUTSIDE THE BARN (where I’ve seen the fox kits) and the cat has an alibi!!!

What camera did you order? I looked on Amazon and there are so many, it got so confusing to decide on one.

@Simkie, any suggestion on something basic for the back yard? We’re adjacent to a state park and green belt, and I know we have critters passing them, largest are probably the coyotes and deer. Many options for placement, too.

Fox kits, lucky you! (Not so lucky bunny, though!)

[Simkie]

@keysfins

@Simkie, any suggestion on something basic for the back yard? We’re adjacent to a state park and green belt, and I know we have critters passing them, largest are probably the coyotes and deer. Many options for placement, too.

That one I linked above is fine The price has even come down a few bucks:

https://www.amazon.com/Campark-Water…/dp/B07BHLVXF7

Get a couple! :yes:

Do note: micro SD card for this one, not regular SD card. All my others take SD, this one is a little different with the micro. The “buy both” thing amazon offers would be fine

[vxf111]

I ordered the one Simkie recommended, thank you @Simkie