Bob cat in the chicken run tonight.  Four chickens dead; one really freaked out and hiding on the shelter.

I didn’t know it was a bobcat until Sadie chased it out of the long grass.  I thought it was a raccoon when I heard the rustle in the grass ahead of the dog.  The moment they burst into the open I realized it was not a raccoon but a bobcat.

Everything was a blur of beige and black fur for just a few seconds but it felt like minutes passed.  Scottie walked through the doorway, curious about the commotion, and for a moment I considered siccing Scottie and Jasmine on the feline.

Where was Jasmine?

But siccing the dogs on the bobcat would not have ended well… for anyone.  It would have been fun and games for the dogs at first but for the bobcat it would have been a life or death fight.  And I was standing between it and freedom.  Yeah… not a good idea all around.

Sadie’s yelps confirmed my second thought and I called her off.  She was more than willing to back off and I herded her and Scottie outside the run and closed the door.

I went back and watched the bobcat for a few more minutes.  It stood there growling and glaring at me.  Such a beautiful creature.  I started to close the door but the chicken wire hanging down was interfering.  I wanted to cage the bobcat in the back half of the run but closing the door was taking too much attention and I didn’t want to risk being distracted while a wild, pissed off cat was 20 feet away.

I left the run and brought the dogs inside so I could inspect Sadie for wounds.  Fortunately, she was fine except for her ear.  It was bleeding a bit.  That must have been where the bobcat got her.