Must be rabbits. Master pruners.

[Wulfskaar]

Jeez. I'm lucky I guess. No snow, so they can forage my yard, and LOTS of predators to keep their numbers down. I've only ever seen 2 at one time in my yard, and that's rare.

One interesting thing I've noticed is that rabbits NEVER show up the same night a predator is around. I guess they can hear them coming from a long distance.

For those of you in rural areas, do you shoot predators to protect chickens and whatnot?

 

[KateM]

Jeez. I'm lucky I guess. No snow, so they can forage my yard, and LOTS of predators to keep their numbers down. I've only ever seen 2 at one time in my yard, and that's rare.

One interesting thing I've noticed is that rabbits NEVER show up the same night a predator is around. I guess they can hear them coming from a long distance.

For those of you in rural areas, do you shoot predators to protect chickens and whatnot?

We personally don't shoot anything. Neighbors do. We lost chickens to foxes and hawks...
We mostly rely on passive engineering defenses.
I guess I am too chicken to shoot anything unless my life depends on it and we don't own guns.
My son does and I found out I am fairly good shot. Go figure... probably stemming from childhood good hand eye coordination.

 

[Tycoss]

My issue in previous years has been deer. Anything not fenced with wire gets chewed on. The bucks growing/shedding antlers also like to rub their heads on the jins of yamadori spruce. They've broken off some great deadwood features. My son hunts, but you can't shoot them in town. So far this year, the wire fencing has kept them out.