Posted on 02/10/2021 12:34:36 PM PST by SJackson
TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - A surprise visitor went on the attack at a Tucson petting zoo, leaving more than a dozen animals dead.
Kenneth MacNeil, the owner of the Tucson Petting Zoo and Funny Foot Farm, said when he arrived at work, he found 18 chickens, two ducks and a lamb dead.
“The fences are considered no-climb fences, but unfortunately bobcats can make it over it,” MacNeil said. “I wasn’t mad at the bobcat because he belongs here more than we do.”
MacNeil said he immediately began making changes to the farm to better protect the animals, but when the bobcat returned night after night, he called Marc Hammond with Animal Experts Wildlife Services.
“My first thought is how am I going to catch this bobcat? This bobcat can come back and it get whatever he wants to get rabbits, chickens, egrets, anything that he wants,” Hammond said. “Why is it going to want to go into a live trap when it can go anywhere?
Hammond said he used every lure he had and two days later, it worked.
“We are conservationists, but then again we have to put safety first. So, if we feel it is a situation that we have to trap this bobcat and relocate it to a nice area that is away from residential, commercial and industrial areas, we will do it,” Hammond said.
Hammond said he safely trapped the bobcat and relocated it roughly 40 miles from Tucson near a water source, but away from people.
MacNeil opened the farm about three years ago in a developed area not far from Interstate 10. He said predators have not been a problem until recently.
MacNeil said he has seen an increase in wildlife since the beginning of the I-10/Ruthrauff project that has closed down roads in the area.
MacNeil believes animals may be crossing over from the Santa Cruz River on the side of the highway.
MacNeil said he is thankful the majority of his animals survived and with recent sightings of bobcats and coyotes, he will have to continue to make the changes necessary to keep his animals safe.
40 miles is nothing to a bobcat. I bet it will be back in a few days.
Our fat, old, lazy housecat can still jump at least 3 feet from standing still, so it doesn’t surprise me a bit they can jump that high.
A petting zoo is a beffet for wild animals!
I am impressed! Apparently, the cactus needles don’t bother the underside of the Cat’s paws.
Why did the Cat climb up the Saguaro Cactus tree?
Because it was there!
On a pheasant hunting trip to N.W. Kansas, the morning after a night snow fall I followed the tracks of a bobcat that was walking on one of the rails of the railroad tracks for about a quarter mile. It never slipped off once.....
“I wasn’t mad at the bobcat because he belongs here more than we do.”
Stop it already.
It’s ok to be angry at predatory animals who kill innocent lambs and chickens.
And the “he belongs here more than we do” is a low IQ statement induced by the communists in Hollywood.
I have live trapped a few coyotes here on my property and relocated them - to coyote heaven.
Forty miles is not enough...not near enough.
The owner of the petting zoo is an idiot if he really things the bobcat belongs there more than he does. We are land animals, we have as much right to be here as other predators.
Now, if he was growning fish in a tank in the ocean, and they were eaten by a shark, maybe he has a point.
how about cougars?
Bobcat will forever remember the all-you-can eat buffet...
Two legged or four?
I woulda shot his butt without hesitation.
Actually, one would hope to have better sense than to have set the stage for such a thing to happen.
How the hell did he get loose in the first place?
We had one sizing up our Chihuahua one night.
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