Each dawn that broke found Murat’s flock dwindling. It went from fifteen to fourteen, then thirteen, with no trace of the missing chickens to be found. It was as though they were simply evaporating into the morning mist. His frustration swelled with each new day.

The familiar clucking that once echoed through his mornings was slowly being replaced by an eerie silence, leaving behind an unsettling void. He knew he needed to act. He needed to find out why his chickens were disappearing. What elusive predator could be responsible for this escalating problem?

Resolute, Murat embarked on a thorough investigation of his property. Yet, disappointingly, no signs of a predator were found. He scrutinized every inch of the land for signs of coyotes, foxes, even stray dogs. The neighbor’s dog even fell under suspicion at one point, leading to him insistently asking his neighbors for permission to search their farm. But again, his efforts bore no fruit. If a predator was to blame then surely he would have found evidence, feathers or bones.