Bobcat question
Posted: August 6th, 2014, 8:11 am
A couple weeks ago, I went out to check on my laying hens and found 3 of them had been dragged out of the coup and killed. I assumed it was a raccoon or opossum. Whatever it was actually tore a hole in the chicken wire. I re-covered the coup in some of the plastic coated chicken wire, hoping it would be strong enough to keep whatever it was from re-entering.
Yesterday, about 10 minutes before dark, I heard the chickens making a ruckus. I looked out the window to find a bobcat trying to figure out how to get in the coup. By the time I got outside with my rifle, he was gone. About 30 minutes later, I shined a light out in the yard and saw him sitting in the edge of the bushes. Between the mosquitoes driving me crazy, and my scope fogging up from the humidity, I wasn't able to get a shot before he disappeared again.
A while back, I was on the tractor in the edge of the hay field and witnessed a bobcat chasing a group of turkeys. And it's getting to where I regularly see bobcat tracks around my parents' chicken houses. I think it may be time to work on the bobcat population around my place a little bit.
I did a little research on how to trap a bobcat, but most of what I read suggested using steel leg traps, which I understand to be illegal in Florida. My question is this. Has anyone had any luck trapping a bobcat in a live trap like the kind you catch raccoons in?
If so, how did you bait it, and any tips? I'm afraid the live-trap I have may be a tad small for a bobcat.
Yesterday, about 10 minutes before dark, I heard the chickens making a ruckus. I looked out the window to find a bobcat trying to figure out how to get in the coup. By the time I got outside with my rifle, he was gone. About 30 minutes later, I shined a light out in the yard and saw him sitting in the edge of the bushes. Between the mosquitoes driving me crazy, and my scope fogging up from the humidity, I wasn't able to get a shot before he disappeared again.
A while back, I was on the tractor in the edge of the hay field and witnessed a bobcat chasing a group of turkeys. And it's getting to where I regularly see bobcat tracks around my parents' chicken houses. I think it may be time to work on the bobcat population around my place a little bit.
I did a little research on how to trap a bobcat, but most of what I read suggested using steel leg traps, which I understand to be illegal in Florida. My question is this. Has anyone had any luck trapping a bobcat in a live trap like the kind you catch raccoons in?
If so, how did you bait it, and any tips? I'm afraid the live-trap I have may be a tad small for a bobcat.