CAM
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We are closing on our new property this week and last night we were invited to the seller's home (will be our new home in 4 days) for a going away party for the sellers and to meet our new neighbors. We had a great time and the kids got to meet some of the neighborhood kids too. My concern is that when we were having conversations with the current owners and some of the neighbors, we got to talking about the predators in the area (coyotes, bears, cougars, etc.).
The property is 460 acres that is fully fenced although 6 buffalo were eating off the front lawn last month so the fencing may not be fully intact.
: Aside from the buffalo "problem", people were talking about the coyotes that roam there nightly and come in very close. The seller's even mentioned how one time he watched a pack of coyotes luring his dog off with them and were circling him (picture a pack of hyenas and you will get the picture). He had to get a shot off in their direction to scare them off or well, you know, the dog may not have made it back home.
Then a neighbor spoke of seeing a cougar walk nonchalantly across the road this past summer. It stopped and stared at the neighbor, then continued on its way. Didn't appear to be leary at all. He said this was the ONLY time he was without his gun on one of his walks. He never walks the main road without one!!
I might mention the house we are buying is about 1/2 mile off the main road and most of the neighbors have really large properties so no one is ultimately very close to each other. The road leads to Wildcat Campground which sits at the base of Wildcat Mountain. Hmmm...wonder why they named it that? This all leads to forest service and BLM land. We are surrounded by trees and meadows.
So, the problem is that we are moving from a fairly safe 5 acre parcel to a large piece of property with bears, coyotes, cougars, etc. and I have a real fear for my animals safety. We have been looking into Anatolian Shephards as well as other livestock guardians and different fencing options. This is all new to us and I was nervous enough about it that I slept very fitfully last night thinking about my "babies". We are thinking that 5 ft no-climb horse fence would be a good idea with some hotwire on the outside for predators and maybe the inside if we get an Anatolian. We will be cross fencing near the barn which fortunately, is right off our back yard about 150 ft or so.
I would like to get your ideas from your experience because I am extremely nervous about bringing our babies there. I have them boarded at a friend's until we can get adequate fencing up. We also wanted to look into goats to roam the rest of the property and eat down one of the noxious plants as we are told they are the best for that however, last night we were told they would become sacrificial goats. I'm sorry, but I just can't do that to the goats in good conscience.
Any help or ideas for fencing and protection would be greatly appreciated!
The property is 460 acres that is fully fenced although 6 buffalo were eating off the front lawn last month so the fencing may not be fully intact.
Then a neighbor spoke of seeing a cougar walk nonchalantly across the road this past summer. It stopped and stared at the neighbor, then continued on its way. Didn't appear to be leary at all. He said this was the ONLY time he was without his gun on one of his walks. He never walks the main road without one!!
I might mention the house we are buying is about 1/2 mile off the main road and most of the neighbors have really large properties so no one is ultimately very close to each other. The road leads to Wildcat Campground which sits at the base of Wildcat Mountain. Hmmm...wonder why they named it that? This all leads to forest service and BLM land. We are surrounded by trees and meadows.
So, the problem is that we are moving from a fairly safe 5 acre parcel to a large piece of property with bears, coyotes, cougars, etc. and I have a real fear for my animals safety. We have been looking into Anatolian Shephards as well as other livestock guardians and different fencing options. This is all new to us and I was nervous enough about it that I slept very fitfully last night thinking about my "babies". We are thinking that 5 ft no-climb horse fence would be a good idea with some hotwire on the outside for predators and maybe the inside if we get an Anatolian. We will be cross fencing near the barn which fortunately, is right off our back yard about 150 ft or so.
I would like to get your ideas from your experience because I am extremely nervous about bringing our babies there. I have them boarded at a friend's until we can get adequate fencing up. We also wanted to look into goats to roam the rest of the property and eat down one of the noxious plants as we are told they are the best for that however, last night we were told they would become sacrificial goats. I'm sorry, but I just can't do that to the goats in good conscience.
Any help or ideas for fencing and protection would be greatly appreciated!