Courtesy of Danielle Langloism, Wikipedia CCLMountain lion targets goats
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Jim and Julie Montgomery opted for higher fencing and a Great Pyrenees guard dog rather than a gun after a series of mountain lion attacks against goats in their area.
A mountain lion killed their 160-pound goat Hanukkah by jumping on a shed roof and into the pen.
The Montgomerys told The Santa Cruz Sentinel the killing was one of series of big cat attacks against goats in the neighborhood.
Two pygmy goats were found gutted on a neighbor’s property Christmas Eve, and on another property just a shock of hair was all that remained from an attack on a pygmy goat last month.
“What concerns us the most is that this behavior may become habitual for the mountain lions,” Jim Montgomery said. “Our goal is to deter them by keeping the food source locked away. It was pretty easy.”
Montgomery said it is unfair to blame the mountain lions for their predatory behavior and he refused to get a permit to shoot the cats.
“The key is to live among the wildlife as best you can and just focus on keeping everyone safe,” Montgomery said. “Just take away the food source.”
We had a series of “cat” sightings in SE Nebraska a couple years ago. We lost a couple of kids, and cat tracks were found where the remains were found. We got TWO LGD’s (they work better in pairs), and haven’t lost a goat since. We also have Coyotes in the area. The LGD’s keep them well at bay.
And don’t forget that farm cat you have that’s trying to take your dog to the ‘dark side.” That cat will end up running your farm and all of you will end up serving him!