Rodent problem

Hello all, one of our friends asked us if we could help out with something that is taking chickens and turkeys out of her barn. We went over and checked it out and found a half eaten Turkey killed in the last few days. Looked around and found a few big piles of scat and some paw prints in the dust. Took some pictures set up a camera and a trap to see what's going on. Took some pictures of the scat and paw prints. Looking to see if anyone may have a few ideas. It's not a consistent schedule of the turkeys and chicken going missing but in the last 2 months 8 chickens and 4 turkeys

Racoons...get yourself a live trap from TSC, set it up then SSS....

They come into the barn after dark, so it's best to set a trap.

I posted a thread a few years back with some pics of how I set it up etc...

https://www.oodmag.com/community/sho...hlight=raccons

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Racoons...get yourself a live trap from TSC, set it up then SSS....

They come into the barn after dark, so it's best to set a trap.

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Would the raccoon eat the turkeys? The turkeys fly and run away that's the part that's confusing me

Yes, but primarily they just kill them. When you go into a pen and see the bird de-decapitated then it was more than likely raccoons. I have seen Martins do the same, but your scat/track pics look more like racoon.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Yes, but primarily they just kill them. When you go into a pen and see the bird de-decapitated then it was more than likely raccoons. I have seen Martins do the same, but your scat/track pics look more like racoon.

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We have only 1 half carcass left everything else has just dissapeared

It could also be a Possum, this happened to our neighbor , lost 3 turkeys and 17 hens to a boar possum .
It all ended when he borrowed my live trap and caught it.

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Originally Posted by jaycee

It could also be a Possum,

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Possums are pretty much limited to the southern edges of Ontario. I don't think I have every heard of a sighting in the Ottawa area.

If they are up on the Bruce Peninsula , no reason why they can't be in the Ottawa area, they are also in the norther part of Michigan.

[COLOR=#333333] but recently this naked-tailed marsupial has been turning up in garages and garden sheds all the way up to Ontario’s Bruce Peninsula.

[COLOR=#333333]But starting in the 1970s and 1980s, they just exploded over the northern part of Michigan.”
The above from the link posted below.

http://cwf-fcf.org/en/news-features/...sojourner.html

COONS!
The one pic is definitely coon front paws - not possum. possum front paws have a somewhat opposing thumb.
Also the pile of crap is a dead coon giveaway. They seem to have a fav spot when crappin in attics etc. I've seen them pile it up so high you'd wonder if they were wearing high heels.

live trap. heavy gloves and carry the trap outside. dispatch before opening trap. 22 to the head and be sure it's dead before you take it out the trap.

How are they getting in?


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Not 100% sure how they are getting in we couldn't find any tracks outside leading inside and nothing other than on the roof where I took the pictures. We took a flashlight to all the hiding spots we could find and could find anything

Big'ol coon, time for a trap as said in post's.

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Originally Posted by fishhawk

Big'ol coon, time for a trap as said in post's.

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Or go back to that thread that Mike referred to and go to my post there. Problem solved.

We set a trap and put a fresh chicken that was ready to be slaughtered in it yesterday nothing today but I'm sure in the next few days well get something or something on the camera we set up

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Originally Posted by SK33T3R

COONS!
The one pic is definitely coon front paws - not possum. possum front paws have a somewhat opposing thumb.
Also the pile of crap is a dead coon giveaway. They seem to have a fav spot when crappin in attics etc. I've seen them pile it up so high you'd wonder if they were wearing high heels.

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Image result for possum tracks 280 × 189
Backyard Poultry Flocks ...
articles.extension.org
Image result for possum tracks 329 × 242
Virginia Opossum Tracks | Virginia ...
flickr.com

I can't get the image to print, however it is the hind foot of the possum that has the opposing thumb look to it, it is the same description in all the links I found .

Also when you google possum scat , all pics. look like pic. provided by original post.

[COLOR=#464749] Raccoon feces are usually about two to three inches long[COLOR=#464749], dark and tubular in shape.

pic 1 and pic 3 do not appear to be the same animal. pic 1 looks like a cat. pic 3 is a coon in my opinion. Pic 4 is an attic above a room. That pile of droppings all in one spot is very coonish. I've seen this behavior hundreds of times and it always was a coon in the end. Now maybe possums pile it up too BUT I've never seen that yet. Also coons are notorious for inhabiting attics and high places. Possums on the other hand are content to stay closer to the ground. They tend to crawl under stuff like a skunk would. Finally the fact that Turkeys are being taken just doesn't convince me that a possum would be involved. They are pretty timid and usually like their stuff when it doesn't put up a fuss. Like fruit, dead animals, eggs, etc.

Who knows? in an open barn like the poster said it could be 2 or 3 different varmints. maybe even an owl.
If the trap is left there for a while I'm sure they'll catch possums, coons, skunks, and a few cats!

Possums are also notorious climbers;
Possums sleep (during the day) in holes (called dens) above the ground, in hollow tree branches or building ceiling cavities, or at or below ground level. A possum can have several dens and can change dens several times per night.

A farmer a few years ago when I asked about shooting a few groundhogs, told me to kill the possums as they were killing his turkeys, which they are very capable of doing.
They were attacking the turkeys while they were walking around in broad daylight, they would attach themselves to the turkeys butt end and start chewing away, eating the turkey while it was still alive,I saw this twice while at that farm.

Set up a trail cam and trap

Sure looks like coons. This time of year they will likely be active in milder nights. They will be mating this time of year. Use a live trap, I bait with cat food pellets, or a can of sardines. Place bait beyond trigger. You may also trap a skunk , or possum. You may catch all the neighborhood cats as well, if you decide to release the cats, give the trap a good shake, they will exit at a high rate of speed, never to be caught again. old243

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Originally Posted by jaycee

Possums are also notorious climbers;
Possums sleep (during the day) in holes (called dens) above the ground, in hollow tree branches or building ceiling cavities, or at or below ground level. A possum can have several dens and can change dens several times per night.

A farmer a few years ago when I asked about shooting a few groundhogs, told me to kill the possums as they were killing his turkeys, which they are very capable of doing.
They were attacking the turkeys while they were walking around in broad daylight, they would attach themselves to the turkeys butt end and start chewing away, eating the turkey while it was still alive,I saw this twice while at that farm.

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I have not yet seen a possum or heard of a possum spotted anywhere near us here in Eastern Ontario, not from any of the poultry people, not from any of the other farmers.

I have though dealt with a lot of coons and that is coon poop, no question in my mind.

They are smart buggers but a live trap and some tuna normally gets them.

Pair, if you need a live trap to borrow just PM me, the biggest one is buried in the snow but a shovel will fix that, although the last person that borrowed it for a coon realized it was just a bit too small for the beast that was living at her place, the door would get caught on its butt.

Use marshmallows for bait in live trap and you will only catch coons. Cats, skunks etc. don't seem to be interested in marshmallows.

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Originally Posted by Fox

I have not yet seen a possum or heard of a possum spotted anywhere near us here in Eastern Ontario, not from any of the poultry people, not from any of the other farmers.

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I already told him that but he seems fixated HaHa..

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Originally Posted by MikePal

I already told him that but he seems fixated HaHa..

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I am not sure which one of us he has blocked, ha ha ha.

Lots of possum in the GTA , they have become the #1 road kill around here. I had a live one play dead in my composter last summer.

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Originally Posted by fishermccann

Lots of possum in the GTA , they have become the #1 road kill around here. I had a live one play dead in my composter last summer.

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Mean buggers, ran into them growing up in SW Ontario, but they do not like the cold. With things warming up they will probably move north, following the ticks which they eat a lot of.

Any luck on catching the critter causing the issue?

Had something eating my laying hens last year and it ended up being barn/feral cats.

Guessing from the tracks you have a raccoon though.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fox

I have not yet seen a possum or heard of a possum spotted anywhere near us here in Eastern Ontario, not from any of the poultry people, not from any of the other farmers.

I have though dealt with a lot of coons and that is coon poop, no question in my mind.

They are smart buggers but a live trap and some tuna normally gets them.

Pair, if you need a live trap to borrow just PM me, the biggest one is buried in the snow but a shovel will fix that, although the last person that borrowed it for a coon realized it was just a bit too small for the beast that was living at her place, the door would get caught on its butt.

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Just because you haven,t seen them , doesn,t mean there are none.

Checklist of the Mammals of the Ottawa District
MARSUPIALS
Didelphis virginiana, Virginia opossum: some records close to the District

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Originally Posted by jaycee

Just because you haven,t seen them , doesn,t mean there are none.

Checklist of the Mammals of the Ottawa District
MARSUPIALS
Didelphis virginiana, Virginia opossum: some records close to the District

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That is it, the place has been invaded by Sasquatch, just because you haven't seen them doesn't mean there are none.

Seriously, all the farmers around here, all the people out in the bush, all the people driving around, nobody has seen one.

The City of Ottawa has no Opossum listed.

https://ottawa.ca/en/residents/water...tawas-wildlife

All of the animal rescues online will not care for Opossums in Eastern Ontario, except one odd one near Algonquin park, I guess they have not run into any hit on the road.

http://www.ontariowildliferescue.ca/...s/?care=possum

Yes, they may be here but they are covering their movements better than cougars if they are.

If you trap nuisence , animals, best to not release them. Where they will cause troubles for others. At our place we have a steady stream of stray cats, most are eliminated. old243

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Originally Posted by old243

If you trap nuisence , animals, best to not release them. Where they will cause troubles for others. At our place we have a steady stream of stray cats, most are eliminated. old243

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Interesting. I take it you're rural so noise isn't an issue. Do you use traps?
pm if you prefer.

Cheers

Edit: I just looked back and saw your earlier post.

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Originally Posted by smitty55

I take it you're rural so noise isn't an issue.

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Between you and me...the 'Have a heart' traps slid down into a 45 gallon drum of water nicely...but don't tell anyone where you heard that tip from HaHa...,

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Originally Posted by Fox

Yes, they may be here but they are covering their movements better than cougars if they are.

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He might be on to something...I heard there might be chupacabras in the area, but no one has ever seen them either HaHa..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by smitty55

Interesting. I take it you're rural so noise isn't an issue. Do you use traps?
pm if you prefer.

Cheers

Edit: I just looked back and saw your earlier post.

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Have a trap up with some food and a camera close by incase it decides to by pass the trap at least we can hopefully get a picture. As well we are rural enough if we catch anything nothing the 22 or 22-250 won't be able to handle and we won't get any complaints

Possums definitely in the Quite area(Belleville). Numerous on the road dead. Ottawa cant be far behind.

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Originally Posted by krakadawn

Possums definitely in the Quite area(Belleville). Numerous on the road dead. Ottawa cant be far behind.

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I agree there, they seem to be following the ticks, which follows climate change, but the last 2 winters have been cold and this winter has been cold and long, so we shall see what happens with the ticks.

Guys need to realize that these are tick eating machines, ideally let them be, just keep them out of your barns but they can be a benefit.

There's possums in Ontario. No need to argue it. Just because you haven't seen them doesn't mean they aren't here. Just saw my first last year.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Between you and me...the 'Have a heart' traps slid down into a 45 gallon drum of water nicely...but don't tell anyone where you heard that tip from HaHa...,

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[emoji106]

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Originally Posted by Fox

I agree there, they seem to be following the ticks, which follows climate change, but the last 2 winters have been cold and this winter has been cold and long, so we shall see what happens with the ticks.

Guys need to realize that these are tick eating machines, ideally let them be, just keep them out of your barns but they can be a benefit.

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They are also egg eating machines too. Bad news for turkey and grouse. Non native so no need for 'em here.

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Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

They are also egg eating machines too. Bad news for turkey and grouse. Non native so no need for 'em here.

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That is my feeling about wild pigs too but I get blasted for it because it is huntable game.

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Originally Posted by Fox

That is my feeling about wild pigs too but I get blasted for it because it is huntable game.

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Also very edible ! :goodstuff: roasts, ribs, chops, bacon.

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Originally Posted by Fox

That is my feeling about wild pigs too but I get blasted for it because it is huntable game.

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Only thing no ones saying leave pigs be.

Ever get a answer in the rodent?


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We caught a raccoon in the cage, smart little bugger. He would set trap off by walking around and hitting the back. So we put hay bails around the back side and top so he had to walk in to get the bait. Happen when I wasn't there so they relocated raccoon and nothing new yet been about a week so looks like the problem is solved for now

Awesome


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So you're positive it wasn't a possum HaHa.

Did you leave it up for a few nights to ensure that it was just one ? They usually hunt in packs/family.

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Originally Posted by Pair88

We caught a raccoon in the cage, smart little bugger. He would set trap off by walking around and hitting the back. So we put hay bails around the back side and top so he had to walk in to get the bait. Happen when I wasn't there so they relocated raccoon and nothing new yet been about a week so looks like the problem is solved for now

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Relocated? Permanently?

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Originally Posted by Fox

Relocated? Permanently?

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Maybe he joined the Submarine service.

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Originally Posted by Fox

Relocated? Permanently?

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Was not going to ask lol


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Saskfly

Was not going to ask

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Not suppose to ask..it's one of the 'S's of S.S.S. :)

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Not suppose to ask..it's one of the 'S's of S.S.S. :)

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No need for SSS when it is protecting farm animals, just make sure you do it humanely, don't use a shovel except to dig the hole.

Wasn't a permanent relocate but they moved it if it was up to me for the permanent. But nothing else has happened since then

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Originally Posted by Pair88

Wasn't a permanent relocate but they moved it if it was up to me for the permanent. But nothing else has happened since then

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I fear this, the guys in the city are going to drop a problem animal at my front door for me to lose birds to and deal with.

Be very aware of the legal limits of relocation, whomever relocates the animal can get in trouble for moving it further than legal as it will be outside of the animals range and in many cases cause them to starve to death or cause more problems at the new sight.

If they are a problem at your place, and relocate them. You are just giving the problem , and the animals bad habits , to somebody else. old243

I agree I did inform them there is a limit on how far they can relocate and to just call me and I would take care of it. But they did what they wanted, out of my hands at this point unless it comes back

I had a similar problem a few years ago. It was a mink. Lost 9 chickens one night. 22 before we got it sorted out. They just took the heads. They couldn't get a chicken out the hole in the coop if they tried.
Get a live trap and SSS. I got it on the first night with the live trap baited with the previous nights kills liver.
HD

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Originally Posted by huntingdad

I had a similar problem a few years ago. It was a mink. Lost 9 chickens one night.

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This little guy decapitated 7 of my chickens before I got him with a leg hole trap...we was getting a very small hole under the rock wall of the chicken coup. Hard to think that he could take down a full grown hen inside a coup where they had roost bars up off the ground. Nasty killer.

https://i.imgur.com/mwBI7nxl.jpg

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Originally Posted by MikePal

This little guy decapitated 7 of my chickens before I got him with a leg hole trap...we was getting a very small hole under the rock wall of the chicken coup. Hard to think that he could take down a full grown hen inside a coup where they had roost bars up off the ground. Nasty killer.

https://i.imgur.com/mwBI7nxl.jpg

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That's an Ermine I believe, right Mike? Good catch.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

This little guy decapitated 7 of my chickens before I got him with a leg hole trap...we was getting a very small hole under the rock wall of the chicken coup. Hard to think that he could take down a full grown hen inside a coup where they had roost bars up off the ground. Nasty killer.

https://i.imgur.com/mwBI7nxl.jpg

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Originally Posted by smitty55

That's an Ermine I believe, right Mike? Good catch.

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It could also be a least weasel, but using the pop can for a size comparison for length and girth I think it's an ermine as well.
A least weasel is 7 to 8 inches maximum and weights about 2 Oz and Ermines are 7 to 13 inches and weight up to 5 Oz.

Scientific Name: Mustela erminea- [Stoat ]

Description:
Ermines have features common to the weasel family like a long body, short legs, a long neck and a triangular-shaped head. They are a small weasel; males average 27 cm and females measure up at 24 cm with their tail adding another 7.5 cm to their length. Males are larger than females and weigh on average 80 g while females weigh an average of 54 g.

Ermines change the colour of their coats seasonally. In the summer, their backs are brown, their undersides are white and their tails sport a black tip. In the winter, they are completely white except for their black tipped tail.

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Originally Posted by jaycee

Scientific Name: Mustela erminea- [Stoat ]

Description:
Ermines have features common to the weasel family like a long body, short legs, a long neck and a triangular-shaped head. They are a small weasel; males average 27 cm and females measure up at 24 cm with their tail adding another 7.5 cm to their length. Males are larger than females and weigh on average 80 g while females weigh an average of 54 g.

Ermines change the colour of their coats seasonally. In the summer, their backs are brown, their undersides are white and their tails sport a black tip. In the winter, they are completely white except for their black tipped tail.

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Did not notice the end of the tail last night, and it's barely in picture. Looked at the right end of the picture today and what looks like a shadow is the tip of the tail.

I remember one of the trappers on here told me to skin it out like a sleeve/tube and use it on my ATV handle grips....

It was the first time I worked with something that small and it didn't come out great, but did work.

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Originally Posted by Pair88

We caught a raccoon in the cage, smart little bugger. He would set trap off by walking around and hitting the back. So we put hay bails around the back side and top so he had to walk in to get the bait. Happen when I wasn't there so they relocated raccoon and nothing new yet been about a week so looks like the problem is solved for now

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A COON! HAH! who woulda guessed!

Has the problem been solved? Any more missing poultry?

Don't let your guard down - there's lots of them out there.

Shot 5 coons last spring in around the house that were wondering around in the middle of the day looking for food or new home.

Found out a few weeks later a neighbour seen a local pest control company dumping problem coons from a windmill a laneway on our road to get rid of them almost daily.

I'd love to have his home address to release some down his way, I could have a coon, cat,skunk or squirrel everyday I'd let go at his house.


If your going to trap it, either deal with it yourself SSS, quit taking it out to the "country" to set free.

/rant over lol

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[QUOTE=Cass;1081116]There's possums in Ontario. No need to argue it. Just because you haven't seen them doesn't mean they aren't here. Just saw my first last year.


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[QUOTE=frankee;1082128]

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Originally Posted by Cass

There's possums in Ontario. No need to argue it. Just because you haven't seen them doesn't mean they aren't here. Just saw my first last year.


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Oh ya for sure, saw one last evening, damm land shark.

[QUOTE=frankee;1082128]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cass

There's possums in Ontario. No need to argue it. Just because you haven't seen them doesn't mean they aren't here. Just saw my first last year.

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Ontario is a very large place. You will not find coons in the far north of Ontario, you will not find deer either, we have not heard of one in our area yet, just south of Ottawa.

[QUOTE=Fox;1082262]

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Originally Posted by frankee

Ontario is a very large place. You will not find coons in the far north of Ontario, you will not find deer either, we have not heard of one in our area yet, just south of Ottawa.

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I did get a big surprise on the 417 right at the Terry "Fox" exit no less, a couple months ago. 4AM, heading for Quebec and if I didn't have to come to a near stop for a big ole Possum. At first I thought I was a cat because I had never seen a Possum before. They are moving on in, I guess.

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Southern Ontario has had possums for over 25years. Don't remember when I first saw them, but I know that my dog got a small one cornered at our old house and see them dead all the time along the road

I was up to 34 coons last year count is 16 this year if they step on what I cut for grass their dead.
Hate possums their horse killers
Ever see a possum 6 babies hanging on

There's a lot of possum around our area(Courtice-Newtonville). They've been here for many years,long enough to establish some large families. We see them mostly around late dusk and early dawn scavenging between houses. They're quite common.

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Originally Posted by js4fn

... Hate possums their horse killers...

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I am in Newmarket and have seen possums for the past few years in the area. A couple of horse farm owners have mentioned to me what you have said above, but what is the evidence of that..? Someone said that if a horse eats grass that has possum urine on it they will die!?

I didn't realize they weren't common across most of Ontario. I recall seeing the first one here in Niagara Falls back in 1983

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Originally Posted by Hawkman

I am in Newmarket and have seen possums for the past few years in the area. A couple of horse farm owners have mentioned to me what you have said above, but what is the evidence of that..? Someone said that if a horse eats grass that has possum urine on it they will die!?

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Urine and feces of possum can case nervous system damage to horses

Yes it’s urine on hay or straw feed to horses ponies and mules animals loose sense of where limbs are mild cases to severe acting like a drunk person