what animal would kill a hawk?

thats a possibility, I would beleive a fox would be around here in minnesota.

it makes sense since I saw one at my work about 5 miles away...........

-Mark

[Jaymo]

All the hawks I see killed around here have flown into cars on the highway. My dad had one fly into his fence one time. It apparently broke it's neck, because it was very dead. My dad hated to see that hawk go. He used to enjoy watching it catch squirrels.

I found out what has been tearing the critters up in my back yard.

@#!%ing cats! Cats!

last night I spotted two neighborhood cats (one half black/white, the other half brown/white) that were tearing up a garbage bag with a squirrel in it I had left back there. When I went back to inspect the area I found bird parts they had brought with them, since those extra parts weren't there when I had mowed the lawn earlier. the squirrel had been dis-emboweld by the cats.

I can't stand cats as it is (I am severely allergic), and its bad enough I know when they are out in the woods they are just there to kill for fun and not to eat, but they are using my yard as their playground.

Now I have to fence the far corner of the yard too!

how do I keep these rotten things out of my yard? they are harassing our cardinals and songbirds too.

-Mark

[daved]

Just a suggestion, but a pellet to the head is just as effective on feral cats as it is on a squirrel.  Feral cats were what got me to buy my first "adult" airgun, not only do they kill just to be killing (gee, that sounds like another critter on this planet we all know), but they insisted on using my porch and flower beds as litter boxes.  And if a not so feral one slips in, oh well, dog owners have to keep their animals under control, the same should be required of cat owner.  Later.

Dave

I agree with you, and thats what some neighbors have suggested. I just want to know if its feral or not first........So I will go on the theory that if it has a tag, I'll just use my live trap and take him to the local animal shelter.

if there is no tag and he keeps messing with my yard and all the other critters, he's got a date with the whisper.

[PryorDaniel]

I know a trick to keep dogs and cats away, but it might keep other critters like squirrels away too.

Take Cayenne chili powder and a little water. Mix the two together and keep stirring until the powder dissolves. You want a somwhat thick mixture, but not too thick. Now tak a spray bottle and pour your mixture in. Spray along your yard and you're all set. The smell of the Cayenne is strong enough to burn their noses so they stay away. I've tried it before and it worked well for awhile. Just re-spray every few weeks or so.

[TexasShooter72]

NIMBY!!!  Not In My Back Yard...    it's a spray that contains cougar urine and other predator pheromones!  Spray it around the parameters of the yard and when animals smell it- they RUN!

I have tried both of those to keep the squirrels away, and all they did was dip their acorns in it and give me the finger.

-Mark

[PryorDaniel]

I know for a fact the chili keeps cats and dogs away. I wasn't sure if it did anything to squirrels though. If squirrels still come, and the cats stay away, I say it's perfect. You still get to do some shooting, and the cats stay away.

[gamo2hammerli]

Time to invest in a paint ball gun....that way you won't kill the cats....but it'll sting them.  Or SoftAir guns.....but I don't know how powerful those are......

[PryorDaniel]

Softair guns shoot softer than paintball guns. Good thing about paintball guns is you can adjust the velocity.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

PryorDaniel - 6/5/2008  7:02 PM

Softair guns shoot softer than paintball guns. Good thing about paintball guns is you can adjust the velocity.

It also leaves a nice humiliation tag on the cat to remind him/her as well.

good idea. a paintball gun would also let the owner know (if it has one) that the mongrel has been someplace where it shouldn't.

-Mark

[BillTheSlink]

Big_Bill - 5/12/2008  11:50 AM



There are three other possibilities that I did not see mentioned,

One: That this bird is old and died of natural causes ?

Two: Raptors have bazaar breeding rituals of spiraling down from great heights as they mate, I have read that some do not come out of this ritual alive, or unharmed.

Three: Raptors are very territorial and defend their territory, even too the death. When the young reach a certain age, the parents will drive away, and even kill them if they refuse to leave.

I hope this helps, just three other possibilities to consider.

Bill

Also, if you have anyone who raises chickens, pigeons, or any other game bird-you have a likely suspect..  Used to have some chickens myself that were like pets.  The Hawk got two and then suddenly dissapered :-0

[gamo2hammerli]

Heck....the cat would showoff his "battle scars" to his buddies.  ;o)