How to rid Coyote's

[drizler]

Fishers are a subspecies of marten, and a tough one at that. Bigger than weasel or ferret, smaller that a badger and far more agile, mean as a mink when hungry or killing a coop full of ___ as if to deny others the pleasure. Might as well think 'wolverine-light' for the havoc they can cause. Certainly not as reclusive as wolverines, or as shy of human activity.

Well said. They aren't shy at all and will happily grab your cat off the deck right in front of you as a coworker found out. Once all the little critters are gone the just stake out your yard and yes the eat small dogs as well. Females tend to be smaller, about big tomcat size and brown. They don't go very far. Males are bigger and black. They roam Like wolves over 50 sq miles and live in dead tree hollows and such like the females Both look like cats from a distance but are more of a ferret. That's how they run too, more like a ferret with that slithering movement.
I never heard of them either but once wondered how back in the 60's that woodchuck got up into that tree across the field but of course it was gone before I got there. The best advice I got on them years later was " watch the small animals, rabbits n squirrels. When they are all disappearing you have a fisher living nearby". Too true.
They are dumb and easy to kill trap though. Just set a pole on a steep angle with some rotten meat past the trap. They will walk right through it. The trick is putting it someplace where house cats can't find it and high enough to keep Wiley yotes from knocking it down. I also put it well up past the trap a few feet so any vultures that land don't get killed. I don't like trapping much but with these vermin it's about the only realistic way. Shooting them is near impossible, they are like VC, you just don't see them.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

But if you do happen upon and startle a fisher cat... Especially at night as I found out... The sounds they make will nearly make you piss your pants.

I thought the devil himself had come for my soul! At least now I know I don't have any significant coronary artery disease.

Fisher Cat Sounds - YouTube

 

[Tig]

I had a fisher cat in my yard last spring. I found the goose nest cleaned out the next day. Saw her again the next week, early Sunday morning. Right by the store in the village. She disappeared under the bridge as we drove by. This one was pretty comfortable running around in daylight. It must have moved on since then. We have lots of bunnies and young squirrels running around this year. No raccoons though. The birds nests all seem to have survived.

 

[drssg]

In our case, the coyotes became less of a problem over time. I wouldn't swear it's anything we did, but we regularly take the dogs for a walk around the perimeter of the property, and they thoroughly mark their territory in the process. I've only shot three coyotes in fourteen years, and that's because they were behaving abnormally. They were near the house in broad daylight and seemed acclimated to people, which makes them more dangerous. Normal coyotes are quite shy, and I never even see them.

The pets come in at night. If the dogs need to go out after dark, they go on a line next to the house. The only animal we've lost was a half-grown kitten in broad daylight, and I think that must have been a hawk. I can't possibly kill all predators in the area that might attack our pets at night.

I used a 22-250, which I think is a good varmint rifle, but I got it for free from a family member. If I had to buy something, I think I'd go for some sort of an AR, which is also a good varmint rifle, but it's also appropriate for home defense.

If you are new to firearms and decide to buy one, I suggest attending some basic training which includes range time. The problem with unsafe gun handling is that it is often completely unconscious. It's just common sense not to point a gun at something you don't want to shoot, but people do it without even thinking. It's common sense not to put your finger on the trigger until ready to fire, but people pick up a gun and naturally put their finger inside the trigger guard. I think it's important to have someone watch your gun handling and point out any mistakes that you don't notice. Just my $0.02.

 

[Dr Dirt]

This might sound nuts, but, it seems to work for me.

About 10 years ago I had a serious coyote and racoon problem on my chicken flock. I bought a couple of solar powered flashing led lights. I was amazed that these little units actually scared away all the ground traveling predators.

It got to the point that we actually stopped "locking up" the birds at night! The way these little led lights work is the fact that predators never want to tango with other predators. When a predator spies these flashing lights they simply slink away in the dark. The coyote pack simply moved away and subsequent new packs moved away as well.

We moved from Cape Ann in Massachusetts to Southern Maine to a bigger farm, using these little lights my free rangers have never been locked up!

I have been here for four years and the only losses have been areal from hawks!

There are several manufacturers who sell these solar powered units, they are about $20 each and the recommended spacing is such that they are much cheaper than fencing and I have experienced 100% success.

 

[Snowback]

This might sound nuts, but, it seems to work for me.

About 10 years ago I had a serious coyote and racoon problem on my chicken flock. I bought a couple of solar powered flashing led lights. I was amazed that these little units actually scared away all the ground traveling predators.

It got to the point that we actually stopped "locking up" the birds at night! The way these little led lights work is the fact that predators never want to tango with other predators. When a predator spies these flashing lights they simply slink away in the dark. The coyote pack simply moved away and subsequent new packs moved away as well.

We moved from Cape Ann in Massachusetts to Southern Maine to a bigger farm, using these little lights my free rangers have never been locked up!

I have been here for four years and the only losses have been areal from hawks!

There are several manufacturers who sell these solar powered units, they are about $20 each and the recommended spacing is such that they are much cheaper than fencing and I have experienced 100% success.

Very interesting. Thanks! (I wonder if these flashing lights keep burglars away too?)

 

[BoylermanCT]

I had predator problems until I put up electric fencing. Keeps coyotes, bobcats and bears at bay. I have trail cameras along the fence line and I get lots of pics of them outside the fence so I know they are still around. All my animals come in every night as bad things happen at night!

 

[davesl708]

awprint:You might just have to get used to them. Even the Road Runner could not get rid of even one coyote.

 

[Rod in Forfar]

From your post, Richard, it sounds as though you object to their blood-curdling howls. After a while you get used to it. One coyote can sound like a whole pack, improvising like Hendrix. Best solution with coyotes is to get a good pair on your property and leave them alone. A good alpha female will keep others out and won't breed much if no members of her group die. They eat a LOT of mice and windfall apples. Our cat's at least 14 years old and there've been three generations of coyotes around the house over that time. She lives outside.

When mowing hay, I sometimes see them come out to watch, or to hunt for mice. They keep their distance, but they don't seem threatening.

In 20 years of sheep farming my dad shot two coyotes who looked troublesome. He lost two ewes in that time, both killed by his border collie *****, Sally. She tended to get impatient when herding.

One time I encountered a pack of strangers passing through, though. They looked dangerous, but they kept going. I guess they respected the resident pair's territory.

 

[CalG]

I hear that wolves are mean on "yotes".

don't bother foxes though. But the yotes will chew a fox in a heart beat.