Not Complaining

[madshutterbug]

No, really, I'm not complaining.

Two nights in a row now, Houdini has done let himself off his line, and after whatever he's done between that and waking me up, come to House and woke me up. I know he's done something, because he's panting like crazy until he cools off.

Not sure what it was last night. We did find canid tracks in sand yesterday morning, and said tracks indicate said canid was beating a hasty retreat from teh Ranch. Said tracks also too small to be Huodini's. All the Bros have fairly good sized paws. Was still dark when I left this morning for Hospital, so Houdini stayed in the House with Herself. Who will check for other signs when it's light. She did tell me all the goats are apparently OK, since she went out to check things when Hairy Houdini woke us up.

How does he do that?

Comments

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Hey, you named him Houdini!

[madshutterbug.livejournal.com]

Can you guess why? *G*

[tassie-gal.livejournal.com]

Nice to see he is living up to his name....

[bordercolliebrs.livejournal.com]

That's the name Boss and MrsBoss gave me. You can't pronounce the name my Brothers use because it's in Dog.

Eh, Mate?

[popperaussie.livejournal.com]

You din't tell him about the big rage goin' on in Studio, did you?

'Cause, streuth, we did clean it all up.

Re: Eh, Mate?

[bordercolliebrs.livejournal.com]

Na, D00d, no worries!

Re: Eh, Mate?

[popperaussie.livejournal.com]

Ace, mate! Thanks.

Silly...

[beshter.livejournal.com]

You named him Houdini, and you wonder how he does that! Really, Houdini doesn't share his secrets...

Re: Silly...

[madshutterbug.livejournal.com]

Well, you know, could be like Stitch, with retractable, opposable thumbs.

[firesmithsghost.livejournal.com]

I speak dog so I can pronounce his name.

I also know that however he does it, when you figure out a way to stop it, you'll still be a paw behind.

Small canid = fox?

If you've coyotes that means trouble of a sort you'll not enjoy a bit.

[madshutterbug.livejournal.com]

Larger paw than fox. We do have Coyote. What we've found is, newborn are the most at risk. Cows do a better bit at protecting calves, but calves may be at risk. Goats don't do so well against a predator that's about their adult size or a bit larger. Hence, a Maternity Pen up close to House or Studio for large kiddings (twice to three times per year). Studio is actually a bit of a preference, because also put a radio near the window, tuned into All Night Conservative Talk Radio and a few lights on timers.

Coyote is trouble. However, Coyote is trouble because Coyote is smart. It is possible to work with that smart. Coyote figures going 'shopping' for dinner right next to a structure that obviously holds humans? Much Too Expensive.

Also, Coyote can be guided. Find a place Coyote is leaving sign, one of their routes. If one does not like the particular route? Mark it as Mine. How? Either of two ways, somewhat related. Method 1, I use old, old shotgun ammo (so if there's a misfire, I just go on to the next round) and 'bust a cap' into the ground right there at Signpost. Then eject the spent shell right there. This leaves the odour of spent and unspent powder, wad, and shell. Coyote smells this and thinks, Uh Oh. Gettin' expensive here.

Method 2, use sulfur powder. After all sulfur is a large component of traditional gunpowder by ratio, and Coyote has learned, smell of gunpowder = Gettin' Expensive Here.

Now keep an eye out for where Coyote changes route. If it's too close to livestock, Mark and Repeat. If it's further away from livestock, OK.

Coyote is Smart, and Coyote is Frugal. Coyote will move.

[firesmithsghost.livejournal.com]

Coyote is Smart, and Coyote is Frugal. Coyote will move.

Much wisdom here.

I unloaded a clip of .22 into a tree past my fenceline after coyotes came in too close. They know how long my arm is now, and will stay just past my reach.

Noise, scent, and the very fact they have been noticed will do the job.

I see you. I know you are here. I am unamused. I have the ways and means to kill you, and I will.

It isn't always good to kill, and I avoid it muchly, but I never tell coyotes this.

Much wisdom from Angry Aperture Arthropod.

Thanks,
Mike

[jehannamama.livejournal.com]

He's named Houdini for a very good reason, obviously.
Chains never could hold the original, either.