Yesterday, we had the local hunt enter the fields on all three sides of our land whilst we walked the dogs round our own. It was not clear what was going on as some of the hounds and some riders went onto fields with crops whilst some stayed on the road. It has to be said, we were nervous for our livestock in case any of the hounds came over on to our smallholding - the sheep, rhea and goats that were out were pretty freaked by them anway, simply being the other side of the hedges.
Now we don't believe in coincidences (much) but this morning we were a goose down!!! We found her remains in the middle of one of the paddocks. Ours don't come in at night and we only ever have actively shut them in when they have had young. Research had led us to believe that more than 5 or 6 geese could be a match for the fox and up till now, that had seemed to hold true!!
So, had a fox been spooked from his or her usual territory by the hunt and so ended up near us, then spotting an opportunity for a dinner? Or was this just a huge coincidence?
We obviously feel hideously guilty... and incredibly sad. The goose that was taken was Guinevere from the Gloria, Guinevere and Sylvester trio and now ALL of them have gone!!
And from now on, we will obviously be shutting them in at night.