Saw something new to me this morning.Garfield was eating on the rear porch. A very large bird flew, in from the left banked and settled 15 ft from the porch. I thought at firstit was a Golden Eagle after Garfield. It was a Vulture. Seeing me at the door it apparently abandoned it's planned attack, or it could have wanted Garfield's food.Between squirrels, racoons, rats, unknown critters, and vultures, and hawks and eagles I may start getting up early and sitting on the proch with a .22. Got lie traps out for whatever is making a mess on the concrete. Don't know what kind of traps to use for the snakes, that like to use garage door tracks to scrape skins off, during thee day. I don't mind them being around but don't want them net to the house. No wonder the Turkeys are staying away on the hillsides.Dakota has settled in and playing with tennis is his past time. Left him outside yesterday to go antiquing. got a nice Pillsbury cookie jar, about 50 years old. When we came back he whimpered a note or two glad to see us or afraid of the critters, in the woods? Worried he has become too dependent. He never gets 6 inches from my side.Happy Trails

Black vultures will go after weak, injured, small animals; turkey vultures will will not. Both are protected (as well as other migratory birds) and you cannot shoot them without a special permit.Foxes will go after cats; we suspect one of our barn cats was chased by a fox and the cat scraped her side during the escape.

You have to understand that by leaving your cats and cat food outside, you are essentially baiting the wild animals. Instead of shooting, trapping, poisoning, etc. them-you could stop tempting them with food sources.

In this neck of the woods farmers let the foxes be. You see they will help keep the rodents down. & now that coyotes are in the area, foxes survive longer than cats.I'm glad for all the protected wildlife there is. Because of this I'm very careful when I put my garbage out.:C

sitting on the porch with a .22. Got lie traps out for whatever is making a mess on the concrete:?Real simple, QUIT feeding the cat outside.

I agree with others, stop feeding outside or your going to have even more problems including rats and an increased rat population.

New one | Good Sam Community

WandaLust2
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
rockhillmanor wrote:

I offered the DNR my garage to hide their vehicles in and to set up a sting on my property during hunting season. I have never seen smiles so big when I offered them this opportunity. Within an hour of opening day they had arrested 4 people. Confiscated 2 rifles. And me and horses where VERY happy and safe campers from there on in.:C

Here in TN when I called to report poachers shooting deer, I was told they can't do anything because they're too shorthanded.
WandaLust2
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
down home wrote:

Between squirrels, racoons, rats, unknown critters, and vultures, and hawks and eagles I may start getting up early and sitting on the proch with a .22.

It's illegal to shoot any birds other than English sparrows and European starlings. When you move where there's wildlife you have to expect what you're experiencing. Killing everything in sight isn't the answer.
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Jul 10, 2013
down home wrote:
NCWriter wrote:
How far south are you?

Maybe the vulture was after your RV or tire. Big problem in Florida some places. We were in the Everglades last year, and there are signs warning you at the Anhinga Trail that the vultures lurking there will eat your rubber trim around the windows, tires etc. The Park Service loans tarps so people can cover their vulnerable areas.

There were a lot of them shuffling around staring at us in the parking lot. Licking their chops (beaks?) waiting for us to turn our backs.

We are at home in southern Tn base of mtns. haven't had the RV out this year except for service.
We seem to be under attack.
Found a newly dug hole, today, at the base of a tree. Big enough hole for a big critter. The cat did not even notice the commotion and kept on eating. Not sure what would have transpired if I hadn't gone onto the porch. The only thing that saved Garfield was the rail up the steps. The Vulture would have smacked right into them. Amazing how it manuvered in the tight area.

Bring the darn cat food INSIDE! What part of that doesn't compute with you? :S
Code2High
Explorer
Jul 10, 2013
Time to get Garfield a snipping and bring him indoors before his luck runs out.
down_home
Explorer II
Jul 10, 2013
NCWriter wrote:
How far south are you?

Maybe the vulture was after your RV or tire. Big problem in Florida some places. We were in the Everglades last year, and there are signs warning you at the Anhinga Trail that the vultures lurking there will eat your rubber trim around the windows, tires etc. The Park Service loans tarps so people can cover their vulnerable areas.

There were a lot of them shuffling around staring at us in the parking lot. Licking their chops (beaks?) waiting for us to turn our backs.

We are at home in southern Tn base of mtns. haven't had the RV out this year except for service.
We seem to be under attack. Found a newly dug hole, today, at the base of a tree. Big enough hole for a big critter. The cat did not even notice the commotion and kept on eating. Not sure what would have transpired if I hadn't gone onto the porch. The only thing that saved Garfield was the rail up the steps. The Vulture would have smacked right into them. Amazing how it manuvered in the tight area.
BCSnob
Explorer
Jul 09, 2013
.
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Jul 09, 2013
magnusfide wrote:
rockhillmanor wrote:

The wildlife center simply called DNR when I did not show up with the dang duck. So they descended on my property. :R

And if you had not called, then would the DNR have known? The reality: the DNR has delegated most of this to the states. And the states have delegated to the counties. And the counties don't have the money to deal with constant policing. Bottom line: the states where the amendment has been made really leave it up to the property owner's discretion.

Did not call DNR. Called a rescue center. THEY called DNR when they knew I had an injured wildlife on my property and I had not followed thru with bringing it in in a timely manner.

I spoke with the rescue center about it and sadly many people do call and then decide to keep it. Henceforth WHY they called DNR on me. IMHO I think DNR is the best of the governing agents. They are not just pumped up law enforcement they are dedicated to what they serve.

And actually I ended up benefiting from it!!!!
I had hunters in my area using rifle and trespassing and putting my horses in dangerous situations during hunting season.

I offered the DNR my garage to hide their vehicles in and to set up a sting on my property during hunting season. I have never seen smiles so big when I offered them this opportunity. Within an hour of opening day they had arrested 4 people. Confiscated 2 rifles. And me and horses where VERY happy and safe campers from there on in.:C
magnusfide
Explorer II
Jul 09, 2013
rockhillmanor wrote:

The wildlife center simply called DNR when I did not show up with the dang duck. So they descended on my property. :R

And if you had not called, then would the DNR have known? The reality: the DNR has delegated most of this to the states. And the states have delegated to the counties. And the counties don't have the money to deal with constant policing. Bottom line: the states where the amendment has been made really leave it up to the property owner's discretion.
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Jul 09, 2013
Ditto X2

And I don't know if any of you have ever dealt with DNR or Fish and Wildlife in your state but they are departments you do NOT want to mess with on any level.

I rescued an injured wild duck and called the wildlife center and said I would be bringing him in the next day. Well the next day turned into several days before I could get away to bring him in......

I woke up to 2 DNR agents IN my back yard and walking IN my barn IN my peacock enclosure and IN my pasture checking out all my animal facilities.

I immediately told them they had no right to enter my property. WRONG.
A DNR agent does NOT need any type of warrant to enter your property or premises when wildlife is involved. I sure did not know that.

The wildlife center simply called DNR when I did not show up with the dang duck. So they descended on my property. :R
BCSnob
Explorer
Jul 09, 2013
magnusfide wrote:
BCSnob wrote:
magnusfide wrote:

In some states this statement is true, in many states it is not. When predators that are otherwise protected threaten your property/livestock, it's lawful to shoot them in those states. The only bird whose status overrules that law in those states is the eagle.
You better read up on the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 since it does protect vultures. To shoot vultures that are attacking livestock you'd need a special permit.

Perhaps in your state not in may others; this 1918 piece of legislature has long been amended for the state laws to overrule it where deemed necessary.

The fact remains that due to the federal law you will need a special permit (from your state office of the US wildlife service) in order to shoot vultures that are attacking livestock, as a livestock owner one cannot legally shoot on sight vultures that are attacking livestock.

US Fish and Wildlife Service's Migratory Bird Depredation Permitting process.
USDA APHIS: Vultures - Management Assistance

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