rachels.haven's Journal

[CntryBoy777]

When they lose their innate "fear of man"....they are very dangerous.....sss....and if nothing else, ya better "make a plan" and have something very handy and close by....to grab for a weapon.....don't just "swat at it"....it is a fight to the death....as far as that coyote is concerned....be very aware of your surroundings....they can travel in packs....be really careful...even a pump BB gun is better than nuthin'.....

 

[farmerjan]

Have you contacted the sheriff's dept or the local police, dog warden, maybe the extension service, or one of the Gov't agencies that deal with farmers? I am thinking that you are putting yourself in a dangerous position now that this animal is not afraid of you. @CntryBoy777 @Baymule are right. This can be a situation where this animal can and will come after your kids if outside. It needs to be eradicated. Nowhere would I tolerate a wild animal being that bold. I was born and raised in CT., I know about close proximity to houses and such. But we still shot and killed smaller varmints like raccoons and such for lesser infractions. Had a fox that I caught coming through in the middle of the day after my chickens. Managed to shoot it after losing several. Turns out it had mange. Have killed some that have had rabies.

What will you do if it decides it is not afraid of you? Or if it turns on you? This is no longer about protecting some chickens. I think that you need to make it known to some one in the animal control dept that there is this threat. The dept of Game and Fisheries will often trap and dispose of animals that are nuisance. I have family in NH and my brother has several tree farms in VT that he manages. They talk about the problems with the coydogs and the different crosses now with the coywolves and the dog/wolf crosses. They also do alot of damage to the wildlife and are on the radar of the dept of game people.

On another front, I do not miss the terrible deer flies that are a part of the New England landscape. We have a few here but not like up there. They will literally eat you up in your area.
Our chickens were always kept in runs, that had tops to keep the hawks and owls out. And they got locked in every night. Although it is illegal to shoot any bird of prey, there were a few that just disappeared from our area after repeatedly having them actually get into the runs and then in the coops after the birds.

 

[rachels.haven]

I have contacted fish and wildlife and animal control and am waiting for a call back.

Looking into getting a gun and will be picking up some fast acting agricultural rat poison for some rats or something.

I have warned neighbors via town Facebook page. Got several disconnected nature worshipers acting as you'd expect. A few neighbors have been having issues too about a mile off. And yes, he is human aggressive and not afraid. I'm hoping they can send someone efficient with experience to take care of this so I won't have to blunder my way through the learning curve of killing this very dangerous thing.
Sorry if I missed anything. I'm still out building the run. I will reread when I can finally rest for the day. Putting the door on. Next the roof and skirt.

 

[farmerjan]

DAMM all the nature worshippers, they need to get a lesson by an animal going after them to make them have any sense at all. I don't want to kill all the wildlife.....he// I rescued 4 baby skunks and took them to our wildlife center when their momma got killed on the road....but there are times for real life to be considered. Hope the dfg gets back to you soon.

 

[Bruce]

If you haven't been trained in whatever type of gun you will get, I suggest doing so. You want to be confident you can hit what you are aiming at.

 

[rachels.haven]

Sorry, this post is not an improvement on the last one.

Animal control will not help, they said, unless they can be called and they drive up and see him attacking someone or not acting "natural". My word is not good enough. They told me to call fish and wildlife on Monday-no one on call from them. Well, animal control may get their wish. The coyote is now hanging out outside our house, howling, sounding just WRONG-like a weird dog, and NOT like the other coyotes, who are not answering him. He's not leaving. I can't see him, but he's there. I'd only come in a few minutes before he made himself known. I guess no more after dark chores, and I'm becoming scared to go outside period, day or night. This thing is harassing us now. I wonder how this little adventure is going to end?

Hurry up Monday. Might be keeping the goats stalled tomorrow.

I didn't get a gun today. Husband is still not comfortable with it. BUT I can't shoot what I can't see in the dark anyway, even if I was trained. The best I can do is make sure I do no more chores in the dark and the kids stay inside and be super careful while going out at all.

I did order a couple of my favorite vermin killing rodent poisons (we do have mice in the barn, after all), but now I'm starting to suspect rabies, so those aren't going to be super effective in the coyote if I used them on it. Plus, they too won't arrive until next week.

How the heck are animal control supposed to drive up and catch it attacking someone?

 

[Bruce]

That does seem weird. Maybe they have no trapping capability, only deal with loose dogs? Hopefully F&G will do something. I know that some official, I assume F&G, trapped 4 or 5 coyotes down in Charlotte a few years ago that were endangering a sheep herd.

It is horrible to be trapped in your own house at night. No way you can only be out in daylight forever, winter is coming and with it a lot fewer hours of daylight.

 

[rachels.haven]

DH said he's okay with me keeping a pellet gun.

Would this one be appropriate?

https://www.amazon.com/Gamo-Magnum-...22&qid=1565540247&s=gateway&sr=8-1&th=1&psc=1

It's no BB gun...I liked the BB gun we had as a kid, but it was mainly just good at shooting targets and pinecones out of pine trees. That's the extent of my expertise on this subject.

 

[CntryBoy777]

Looks good to me, but have never shot anything like that...I have shot 22cal pellet rifle, but they were just the ones from Walmart....barrel breaks and compresses air to shoot the pellet....some, like that...maybe use a CO2 cartridge....just find the range of it out and anything a 22cal will kill, the pellet will too...within its range....most are single shot, but some use a rotating plastic clip that will hold more....no kick or noise...other than the release of air....

 

[Bruce]

Hubby would prefer that you just piss off the coyote?

To answer your question, IMO No.

1. I have the .17 version (Actually the Bone Collector Whisper) of that. Other than the first time (when I got lucky I guess) it has taken at least 4 shots to the head, aiming for the center of an X created by running a line from ear to opposite eye, presumably the best place) IN a Havahart trap for both a coon and several woodchucks. And I'm using heavy pellets for penetration. Clearly there is no loss of velocity at 3" or 4".
2. It is a single shot gun. After you piss off the coyote and open the breech to put in another pellet, you are going to be praying the coyote runs rather than going for your throat.