What the predator score means
The score is a prioritization aid, not a guarantee. It weights direct entry routes—open doors, damaged mesh, weak latches, missing dig barriers, and unattended ranging—more heavily than secondary attractants.
Predators vary by region and can exploit small installation mistakes. Reinspect fasteners, corners, gate edges, roof connections, and the ground perimeter after storms or attempted entry.
Watch the flock and the enclosure
Tracks, disturbed feed, digging, bent mesh, feathers near the perimeter, or repeated nighttime visits are evidence to investigate. A camera can help identify the approach route, but it does not replace physical protection.
Biosecurity and wildlife-exclusion reference: USDA APHIS—Defend the Flock.