Worst Predator Around (Horseshoe Bend, Hope: coop, home, live)

[mistyriver]

We've had wolves, cougars, coyotes, black bears and grizzlies move through our place with no trouble at all even during lambing season (thanks to our beloved Great Pyrenees) but the one predator that has killed chickens and nearly just killed our beloved cat George is a stinking raccoon.

Since the last Great Pyr passed last fall we've taken to keeping the cats inside at night but George figured out how to open the screen door and let himself out on Friday night, not coming back when we called for him.
Saturday morning he crawled out from under the porch, soaking wet and hypothermic, covered in blood from where the coon chewed up his hind legs and tail. He's recovering but in a lot of pain and at the vets on fluids and iv painkillers and antibiotics.

So beware of raccoons and keep your cats up to date on rabies shots. (Also, you don't want coons hanging around because their poop can carry the pathogen that transmits Raccoon Roundworm Encephalitis).

[sierra don]

Sorry to hear about your cat, hope he pulls through okay........cat's are about my favorite animal, have a bunch of them.

I hate Raccoon's, they are nothing but trouble. Had one last night spread 2 bags of aluminum cans around and try to get into my chicken coop, killed 2 chickens last year.

Chased coyotes that were trying to get my neighbors chickens on 2 different days last week, it was in the middle of the day, kind of rare for me to see them around here during daytime, they are usually here between 2 and 5 am, I use a trail cam to get the time. I've lost a few cats to them, been my fault, missing one at evening head count when I get them indoors.

Also last week in the evening I had to dispatch a rabid skunk, it was a brown and white one, never seen this coloring before. After a little research it seems they come in a few color variations.

[oldafretired]

Sorry to hear about what happened to your cat. Hope he heals quickly and gets back to go back home soon.

Are there a lot of coons around here? I haven't seen any around my place but I guess they are mostly nocturnal. I think I read somewhere that you have to be careful with coons because of the possibility of rabies. Are they considered a pest so the ones that become bothersome can be handled like rats/mice?

[JemimahPashmina]

Thanks for the info. For the first time ever, last week at night we had two racoons playing in the backyard and they didn't seem too afraid of us... We too have a beloved cat, so we'll especially watch out for him

[mistyriver]

There are a lot of coons and the ones we've laid eyes on seem bigger than the ones we saw back east. Maybe coincidence, I don't know. But at least when we had the Pyrenees, they weren't so bold but they did manage to slide under the Pyr radar to a degree. Now they are very bold.

We had to shoot one that continually tried to get into the chicken coop and the dogs had him treed in broad daylight. He was HUGE. This one I caught a glimpse of on my porch and he's a pretty good size too.

We don't have any animal food outside nor trash so they only thing I can think that he is hanging around for is our cats.

Going to have to get a trap.

[Cnynrat]

Thanks for the heads up, and I hope George has a full and speedy recovery.

Dave

[banjomike]

You, Raccoons inhabit the entire state, but not everywhere inside the state boundaries. Most are found along our larger rivers and lakes.

My brother had a mother raccoon who built her nest up in a cottonwood in front of his house, next to a ditch that runs along next to the road. She attacked all his dogs several times while she was raising her litter, but they all packed up on her and avoided major damage. She did get one of his cats, though, before moving off to easier territory.

They're right up there on my predator list, too. But to me, the wood tick is Idaho's greatest predator. The diseases they carry can make just about any animal or human very, very ill. With all the recent rain, I expect this to be a bad tick year. keep your long pants on when in the boonies, and wear a long-sleeved shirt! The sun tan ain't worth the tick bite.

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by banjomike

The sun tan ain't worth the tick bite.

Nor, the cancer!33


Coons are also known to get distemper and can pass it on to dogs, and also get Parvo (but not sure if they can pass that onto a dog). It was a big problem when I lived in MI. I used to shoot at least one coon a month in the back acres in broad daylight, while they were walking like a drunk soldier.

[wildflower82]

Originally Posted by banjomike

You, Raccoons inhabit the entire state, but not everywhere inside the state boundaries. Most are found along our larger rivers and lakes.

My brother had a mother raccoon who built her nest up in a cottonwood in front of his house, next to a ditch that runs along next to the road. She attacked all his dogs several times while she was raising her litter, but they all packed up on her and avoided major damage. She did get one of his cats, though, before moving off to easier territory.

They're right up there on my predator list, too. But to me, the wood tick is Idaho's greatest predator. The diseases they carry can make just about any animal or human very, very ill. With all the recent rain, I expect this to be a bad tick year. keep your long pants on when in the boonies, and wear a long-sleeved shirt! The sun tan ain't worth the tick bite.

You are so correct here! We went to the Horseshoe Bend area looking at property and within 20 mins, I had 1 on me and my husband found 3. Lucky they were just crawling fast.......needless to say, we won't be looking at land in the backcountry in that area. Sure is beautiful, but prime weather and land for the ticks to survive. I have heard in town they're not so bad.

[wildflower82]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

Nor, the cancer!33


Coons are also known to get distemper and can pass it on to dogs, and also get Parvo (but not sure if they can pass that onto a dog). It was a big problem when I lived in MI. I used to shoot at least one coon a month in the back acres in broad daylight, while they were walking like a drunk soldier.

Good to know! I didn't know this. Great, keeping my dogs from acting or at least trying to get it out of the yard would not be a fun site. At least I know now they carry distemper, I assumed rabies.