What type of animal eats chickens and digs up dead animals?

Question

One day, I went outside and something had gotten into the barn. It ate 2 chickens, so I buried them. Then, I covered up a hole that they dug to get in. 3 days later, it dug up the dead chickens and tried to finish whatever was left. I got a trap sized for raccoons and skunks, I think foxes could also fit in. I put some cat food and peanuts and cheese in the trap, nothing has happened for about 3 days. Does anyone have an idea of what this animal could be? Any type of food I should set in the trap? Thanks. Please no stupid answers. Best one getes 10 points! :)

Oh and also I live in northren Virginia. I don't believe coyotes live here, do they?

yes, I do have them locked up. The barn isn't close to the house, so I can't really see what's happening from the house.

Answer 1

Maybe a badger, a red fox, skink, skunk, a feral cat or dog or a raccoon. Did you notice how deep the claw marks were where it dug up the chickens? Raccoons have little "hands" and are very dexterous. Raccoons are both scavengers and they'll hunt and kill if it's easy. They're really smart though and maybe that's why your trap didn't work - yet. Raccoons are also able to adapt to people - they'll avoid us if they can, but will figure out how and get into closed areas so make sure the latch where the chickens are is secure. Pls try to avoid killing the creature, try to capture it and call a wildlife rehab person or take it far away somewhere yourself. If not far enough, it will keep coming back for what he's learned is an easy dinner.

Answer 2

I live in Floyd County Virginia and have lost chickens to predators. Raccoons and dogs will dig things up as you described, but if a dog killed your chickens it probably would have taken them away and you would have never found the remains. Coyotes are in my part of Virginia, but they also would take the whole chicken away to eat somewhere safer than in your barn or yard. Opossums will eat about anything, and also dig up things, and dig holes under walls. If it happens again, put your trap inside your barn so that when the animal crawls through the hole it dug it will go into the trap .
It's also possible that one predator killed the chickens and another dug them up after you buried them. Owls have killed some of my chickens. You can tell it was an owl because owls have a strange way of eating. They eat the head first, then the neck and by the time they get to what we think of as the good part of the chicken, the owl is full and leaves the rest. But owls won't dig a hole under a wall. My best guess is it was either a raccoon or an opossum.

Answer 3

It could possibly be a weasel. During the summer, I had a weasel sneak in through the cage wire and kill 2 of my Baby chicks. I buried them and the next morning they were dug up and dragged about 4 inches away from the hole. It could also be a raccoon,fox or even an oppusum. Try leaving your window open at night so if maybe the chickens start squaking you can go out and check, you could also try installing a motion detector light, that would come on when something was near it. Of course try a different method of locking your chickens up at night.

Answer 4

Opossums, racoons, skunks, coyotes, foxes, mink, weasels, stray dogs, cats, are some of the things that will kill eat and dig up chickens.
Try taking a large chunk of raw meat and running a wire through it and wireing it to the rear of the cage and then set it out. What ever will have to get into the cage to get the food and pull on it. It should set the trap off and you should be able to catch it.
It is hard to tell what type of animal your are dealing with.
But since they went after meat I would bait the trap with meat.
Good luck.

Answer 5

I live in VA too, and we do have coyotes and foxes, but it could also be an opossum, a cat, a dog, or a snake...amoung others... (bear cubs..)
I strongly suggest that you call someone who is TRAINed in the field though, because you never know, rabies... vicious animals... nothing to take a chance with or lose a limb over! Animals don't play when it comes to their food in the winter!!

Here try this:
Wildlife Center of Virginia: 540-942-9453

or go here & scroll down:
http://www.creatures.com/VA.html
maybe someone can come out and trap it for you.
thnx for 2pts

Answer 6

Coyotes....now, don't think this is wierd because it is working for us. We have a radio playing at night in one of our barns and it scares the coyotes because they think it is humans talking. Our neighbor told us about this because we have a bad problem with them and it has worked for the past 2 weeks.

If you still want food for a trap....get the remains of fish from a seafood/fish market. Coyotes and other animals love the smell of fish and this will attract them.

Answer 7

Yes,you do have Coyotes in that area. But the Coyotes, are scavengers,and will not attempt to kill something out of a familiar habitat. Do you live in the 'boondocks' so to speak?
It could be, (Yes I know this sounds stupid) a weasel. The are indigenous to your area,and they have a wicked sense of smell.
They are big enough to take down a chicken,and are vicious enough only to kill and leave them.
I would suggest putting bacon in the trap.It has a stron smell and its meat!
Good luck!

Answer 8

Coyotes, Wolfe's, Beagles eat chickens, and Badgers. if they get close to the house. but i doubt it. or a fox they eat Chickens, How big was the hole under the door?

Answer 9

Sounds like some kind of canine. Could be coyotes, foxes, wolves, or the neighbors dog.

Answer 10

Coyote and they eat everything. I would just sit up and watch for the furbeast and put a bullet in it....