Last winter it was an Ermine that took my wifes prized Silkies. Took me and my dog Tessa 2 nights of no sleep but She finally cornered it and when I called her to back well lets just say problem eliminated.
After that I took to carrying my 357 loaded with 38 SP every night when I put the chickens up to roost. After a year of no problems I just recently got lax and out of the habit and sure enough was headed down to the coop about an hour ago to make sure heat lamps were on as temps are dropping and double check everything was buttoned up and sure enough right there at the coop door was a Mink , good sized - full 2 feel long. Well he skedaddled the heck outta there and probably heard me cursing as he hit the woods across the driveway.
I had to put Tessa down just before winter heavy snows, her age caught up with her (still breaks my heart) and though she kept trying I could tell sh was telling us it was hurting her to keep trying to do her Jobs, So we make the call (one of the hardest calls to vet I have had to make in a long time).
now I don't have my buddy to guard the Goat heard and make rounds past the coop periodically throughout the night anymore , So it looks like it's back to carrying when I head towards the coop again and some more sleepless nights on my own for a bit until I can catch 'em in the act.
I sure do miss my 'ol girl again this evening. She was a great companion who loved her Job of protecting all that she considered hers family and farm critters alike. I don't think a day goes by when I still don't think of her. And tonight she sure would have enjoyed the challenge of eliminating that mink.
