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Predators at Wind River Farm
We have never lost a Soay or a Soay lamb to predators here at Wind River Farm. We live in the center of hundreds of acres of densely forested land just three or four miles from the Olympic National Forest. There are predators out there, they just haven't bothered us - yet.

All of our sheep areas have full grown trees in them - which give them shade and shelter from the weather - but also makes it harder for eagles or other raptors to snatch up lambs.

Our fencing style also makes it harder for predators. We intentionally keep the fencing loose at the top so it will not easily support climbing predators. We run chicken wire along the bottom of the fences to deter digging predators.

We've had two dog packs head up our driveway - and both times I, Carol, shot over their heads to turn them back. I don't know that they were coming for the sheep - but I didn't need to know.

We've seen a bobcat within 15 feet of our lambing pens and shot at it - and we've never seen it close to our place again.

I also think that because the sheep are housed so close to where Joe and I spend all our time that no matter how attractive a lamb may seem for dinner - a coyote or bobcat would think twice or a dozen times before crossing so much human scent.

We know we will eventually lose a lamb or adult to a predator strike, it's part of living in "the country". But we don't have to make it easy for them.