aggravated farmer
Member
- Location
- North East Ohio
Just a couple of points @aggravated farmer . . . .
Firstly, building better fences and keeping them at bay, is not really a solution when you are talking about say. . . . lambs being taken on a hill farm by charlie, or game birds being taken on a shoot. There are many other examples. In these kind of circumstances vermin need managing / controlling. Their levels are often inflated by the presence of these introduced 'prey species'. In other places, they can be left to get on with it (often however, at the expense of bio diversity).
Also with regard to snares being lazy and irresponsible. . . a correctly run snare line is lethal. Setting one properly is an art, and it is a very efficient means of targeting predators. If used correctly and fitted with stops, they shouldn't do any damage to non-target species. I would argue that in many cases the rifle is a far lazier option, and in many cases it would be irresponsible to use one.
Besides, lamping in mountains, forests etc. . . . isn't easy. And most folk who shoot foxes, hate having to get out of the 4x4.
If fences can keep bears at bay here, surely they can keep foxes at bay. It's called electricity. We are using it to communicate. Electrify that sh!t.
Neck hold snares (As to what I was referring to earlier) are irresponsible. What if the intended animal gets a leg through and its head and just dangles? It will most likely not kill the animal and leave it suffering, dangling in wire. I have found coyote still alive in snares adjacent to our property. A foot hold is a safe and humane way to trap an animal.
I would argue that a rifle (if the caliber and grain of bullet are suitable) are far more humane than a trap. I assume now that ya'll don't kill em for fur (or do you?). Lamping, you mean spotlighting? If so, isn't that illegal over yonder? sure is here, except for coon and possum.
Foxes are cunning animals and learning how to deter them will make you a more knowledgeable person. Maybe even allow you to respect the animal and learn with them about and keep them at bay.
also, if you haven't heard of fainting goats, might wanna look into them too. They are bred for the purpose of being the bait for the predator so the livestock you need gets away.