We Are Starting To Get Big Cats In My Area. Should I Be Worried About Our Livestock?
3 years ago, during muley season, in the Watford City area of ND, a bowhunter got jumped by one, but in the nick of time managed to put a broadhead in the bastard’s neck. This is about 50 miles NW of where im at. And last year, in the middle of the night, i heard what i swear it sounded sort of like a baby crying, but defineatly sounded like a big cat. And last year, the North Dakota Game & Fish finally decided to open a season for mountain lions that would last til 5 were killed. 2 months later my neighbor shot the 5th one 10 miles away from my place. Now keep in mind that im a horse owner and there was allready horses attacked by big cats here. And all five mountain lions were shot in a 100 mile radius of my livestock. Should i loose any sleep over it. I probably sound like a puss when i say this, but i am just curious?
Tags: About, Area., Cats, livestock, Should, Starting, Worried
August 5th, 2009 at 1:39 am
My uncle had the same problem with wolves and coyotes and whatnot screwing with his cows, he invest in electric fencing around the area where the cattle were kept. Around the field he set up Wire fencing with lines every 8 1/2 inches or so up to 5 feet tall. He says it works very well and keeps the cattle from trying to knock over the pre-existing fences which were just wooden posts and regular wire fencing. So it’s a good investment to protect the cattle, or in your case horses, and it all serves as a good boundary line. Also i have heard of people installing motion sensor lights, to scare away the animals, around different areas of the field perimeter, not very costly as you can just put up a wooden post and run a light from the top. You can use car batteries to power them. Sounds like a good idea, but i don’t know of anyone personally that has ever done it, and I’m not sure about the car battery thing. Shouldn’t be too hard to find a power source if you really wanted to. in the long run it would be nice anyway. The power line thing may be a little expensive, but as much as horses cost it would be worth it, depending on the size of your pen or field or whatever you keep them in. You could just lock them in a pen at night and do the wires around that. Good luck, hope this helped!!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 6:41 am
I would’t loose to much sleep but I would bring the horses in closer to the house. You might have to talk to some of the other ranchers and organize some watches for the cats.
I would also get carry permits for all my family because remember there was that couple that was attacked on that bike trail down by Medora
I would call the game and fish see what they suggest
August 5th, 2009 at 11:08 am
I would. They are showing up in the OK panhandle and the game ranger is worried. People are losing pets. They will try the bigger animals when the small ones run out.
August 5th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
I had a small ranch in eastern Arizona. Mountain lions were numerous. Livestock loses to them was common. Should you worry ? Horse is their favorite food. You figure it out.
August 5th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Mountain Lions are very near the top of the food cahin. You should take precautions to protect your livestock. If it is easier for them to find deer they will probably leave your animals alone.
August 5th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
I wouldn’t worry about it if you put your horses away at night. Most big cats are nocturnal, so they won’t hunt during the day.
August 5th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
hide the animals the cats are coming