@wholesomeroots Hi! In reading your article, my gut instinct is that the culprit is a rat, especially with your rat snake eating eggs, instead of catching and eating rats. Hello? That is why they are called rat snakes. Rats will also kill ducks and chickens. Rats do not travel far. Meat is the top preference for rats and mice. Nuts and seeds take second place. Cheese is a mythology; it is usually eaten only when preferable items aren't around.

I have found that if one wants to have ducks, then have large geese also. I'm talking the ones that are twice the size of Canada Geese. Geese are an incredible early warning system. Also, it is rare that a fox is able to take down one of these geese as long as it is healthy. Geese deter most duck predators except eagles, hawks, and members of the weasel family.

I will upvote your post in a few hours when my percentage builds back up.