Predators on the Homestead – The Basics

Predators are around the homestead even if you see no sign of them. Let’s take a look at the basics of how they interfere with your objectives of raising small animals for meat and eggs. This is the basic knowledge you need to start understanding your small animal adversaries and how to deal with them.

• No matter where you go, it’s always a struggle between animals that want to occupy the same space. It’s either cooperative or competitive. When it comes to predators, it’s mostly competitive, and they view us as just another animal with which to compete. Your job is to be a better competitor.
• Whether growing vegetables or raising chickens, what you have is seen as “free food” or fair game for your adversaries. They’re especially appreciative of you providing them with a wide selection of food – all at seemingly no cost. Your job is to make it cost them something.
• Determine what kind of animal you’re dealing with. To do this, you’ll have to know a little about reading tracks, identifying scat, and knowing a bit about animal behavior. Each animal has distinct characteristics that are identifiable. If you know your animal problem, you’ll be able to figure out what kind of behavior you’re likely to face.
• Depending on your animal adversary, you may have a daytime problem, a recurring unwanted visitor at night, or a clever critter that hunts and gathers during the day and night. Know when you’re vulnerable to predation.

Your options to deal with predators are many and varied, but largely boil down to killing, relocating, preventing and deterring. What you select and how you go about doing it is largely your choice, but each choice has a place in your playbook. Your job is to know what will work best to eliminate or avoid problems caused by predators.

Coming soon I’ll provide detail about the most common animal problems that you’ll likely face while raising meat and eggs. I’ll address the lowly and ubiquitous mouse – yes it qualifies as a predatory animal and you’ll see why. Rats are simply larger versions of the mouse, so they’ll be addressed together as rodents.

Another common animal problem is the domestic dog and domestic cat, both of which can become stray and turn feral. You may also have to face the coyote, even if you live in an urban area. Foxes are beautiful, but they create problems as well. So do raccoons and what I call a “raccoon in a tuxedo” – the skunk.

I’ll also address birds of prey like hawks, falcons, owls and eagles. Snakes can also be a problem, so I’ll touch on those slithery animals too. Lastly, I’ll discuss larger predators like bears and cougars. Although not nearly as common as others, they can still present a problem for those of us who keep “free food” on hand for others brave enough to invade our airspace to get it.

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Clair Schwan loves wild animals and enjoys seeing them, even right up close around his homestead, but he knows that some are predators and will offer serious competition for other small animals he raises for meat and eggs. See his adventures in small animals over at Frugal Living Freedom where the motto is, “…living well, and well within your means…”