I have to laugh at your post. I would swear that you some way are related to me.
I have a coop but no laying hens. The Bob cat and its litter took them this summer. My beloved plot hound left for college and the cats saw an opportunity. I will get more in the spring. My plot loved the chickens. Protected them.
The bears are stocking up around here at this time. They hit my neighbors garbage yesterday.
I do have pleany of things to eat though.
Plotts are a very under-rated breed. They are total sweethearts with humans. Not so much with bears.
We have a beef steer right now that THINKS he’s a dog, but that’s OK because the DOGS think he’s a bear, LOL! It all seems to work out for them all.
Beau would LOVE it if we had plentiful Bobcats around here. The best he can do in the winter months are Coyote.
Once in a great while there will be a Bobcat sighted and everyone’s phone blows up and whatever OTHER plans you may have had for the day are out the window. ;)