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Originally Posted by GermanStar
There are so many coyotes and predatory birds around here that rodent populations seem well in check. Ground squirrels, pack rats and rabbits are abundant but in no way out of control. A family of 6 Harris Hawks moved into the neighborhood about three or four weeks ago. Have seen very few quail or packrats since. The hawks will move on in a little while and the prey animals will make a fast comeback to serve as coyote food. No rattlers near my house -- I'm grateful for the sake of my pup. Roadrunners eat rattlers too, don't they?
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Well yes lots, if not herds of roadrunners. They’re the meanest damn suckers, but they’re more after the quail I think – seeing them go after the little chicks is just ugly. Hawks – anything that flies – are thick. I feed better than 60lbs. of seed to the birds each week, and the rats come for the chafe at night. You’ll see the birds scatter and 3-4 seconds later a hawk will come gliding around just a few feet off the ground – very cool. I’ve never seen them get anything, but it was raining feathers one morning as I steped off the porch. But to the point, I’ve got field fence for about 4 or five acres around the house to keep the dogs in, so no cyotes. So I’ve screwed up the ecosystem and wound up with rats and rabbits = extra snakes. I know where a huge sucker is wintering over. Found a huge shedding sticking out of a hole – I’m tempted to dig him up – it takes them a long time to get going when they’re cold.