Keeping the barnyard safe.

Everyday on the farm there are things that can cause harm. The raccoon is one of them. Now taking a picture of a raccoon in a bucket may come off as inhumane for some to view. But the raccoon is one of many predators that can cause serious damage to our chicken population. This raccoon was found by our two red healers.  Loki and I were out in the forest and the dogs all of sudden went crazy. We went to see what all the chaos was about. The dogs had circled the raccoon and then the fighting began. Once we realized that it was raccoon there were two options one we could leave it be or two we would have to shoot the raccoon. Well as you can see number two was the option. I have to say that over the last year on Cloudberry farms we have all learned to make choices that we would have never thought possible before we started our farm. We as family had never been hunters.  We were not ones to go out once a year and shoot animals because the calendar said it was time. And in this case this is not hunting, this is a necessary action that must take place on farm that has chickens and ducks.  The dogs are now barking louder and the raccoon is getting madder. I take off to the house and get the 22. I get back to the woods and Loki says he wants to take the shot. Loki took aim. I tell Loki "make sure you do not shoot the dogs". Loki steadies the rifle and let off the first shot. Raccoon stops in his tracks. But he still moves, so another couple shoots and he stops moving. Loki aim was right on.  After the feeling of why rushes over us.  Reality is if this raccoon makes into the coop, we could lose all of the chickens while we sleep. Today I went out to take care of the animals and we lost a duck. Not sure if was a raccoon or a coyote. Farming everyday is a lesson in keeping the livestock safe.