Footprints in the snow

Only 3 of my chickens had names.  Now only 2.  My favorite, Noosie, is missing in action and I think I know who/what the culprit is.  Every night when I go out to milk the goats I have to carry my rooster (who has no name), Noosie and Soosie to the coop because they'd rather roost in the barn.  Last night Noosie wasn't there.  I checked the coop to see if she finally figured it out and put herself to bed.  I didn't see her.  I thought for sure she'd show herself this morning and be her usual nuisance (hence the name Noosie).  She did this once before.  I walked along the edge of their fence and discovered footprints, small ones, similar to a dog's.  My guess is a fox jumped over our fence and got her.  There are no feathers, blood or any other evidence except the prints.  It looks like he walked around the back of the coop and then exited in a different place. 

The chickens have been putting themselves to bed early so I think tonight I'll shut them in long before I go back out to milk the goats.  Usually I milk at 8:00 and the chickens have been roosting for 2 to 3 hours before I close their door.  James has set a have-a-heart trap with some meat in it.  I'm not saying we're going to have much of a heart if we catch him.  We know people.  I'm afraid the trap might be too small for a fox but we'll see.  This is our first experience with predators.   Poor Noosie.