Maybe a first

[jimmyj]

Poor girl. I hope they are able to shed some light on what happened once they kill the coyotes that did this. It is interesting that the officials comment on them being "highly agitated" - there must be more to this story.

We have coyotes as thick as theives around here, I've bumped into them in the forest many times out walking alone. Never had a problem and I doubt I ever will. I have not ever seen them as a threat so this incident is very bizarre.

We can speculate all we want on whether or not she should have had a weapon or whatever, but who knows if it would have made any difference. Maybe yes, maybe not. It must have been terrible for her

 

[jinman]

Poor girl. I hope they are able to shed some light on what happened once they kill the coyotes that did this. It is interesting that the officials comment on them being "highly agitated" - there must be more to this story.

I think there is a likely chance that the victim could have been experiencing her monthly cycle and the odor excited the coyotes. I've seen this occur in domesticated animals, and surely the heightened senses of dogs, wolves, or coyotes makes this a possible theory. "Highly agitated" could be a way of saying this and stating it in a delicate manner deemed suitable for the press.

 

[jimmyj]

Excellent point Jim. Thanks for bringing that up. Something to keep in mind and a good reminder that we're just beasts too....

 

[hitekcountry]

Predators are masters at evaluating risk and their prey's ability to defend itself. Her being alone and small in size would have been taken into the calculation and all that worked against her. And then there is the issue of situational awareness. She was probably not aware of any danger and was probably just walking or jogging along. It gives a predator more confidence if it knows its prey is not "on alert" and is completely unaware if its presence.

More than likely they will never figure out what really happened.

Very sad story.

 

[Tig]

Not sure which part you got wrong.

Egon had the province right and the way I heard the story the student was the one who had seen the wolves previously.

 

[whistlepig]

I read that story earlier today and was very much surprised. We've had lots of coyotes around, but they always shied away from humans. I can't recall hearing of a coyote (or coyotes) killing anyone before.

I have never read of coyotes killing a person until I read this story. The place we lived three years ago was over run with coyotes. Development was crowding them towards us. Every cat and small dog in the neighborhood was eaten. Snatched out of the yard many times while the pet owner was watching.

 

[NSBound]

..... Every cat and small dog in the neighborhood was eaten. Snatched out of the yard many times while the pet owner was watching.

That's why I'm keeping my cat either indoors or on a leash. It kinda feels weird having a cat on a leash, but the two main threats here are coyotes and eagles.

 

[Pilot]

Our cat is an indoor cat since he spent 2 nights treed by coyotes. But I never see them when walking thru my forest, although we do see them in the yard when we are inside.

I worked 25 years as a forester, usually in the woods alone and was only threatened by a critter once--that was a moose protecting her 2 calves which were about 2 days old when I happened nearby. She chased me just far enough to be sure I wasn't a threat.

When I worked in the 98,000 acre Bull Run Watershed which is closed to public access, we saw lots of bears--from the pickup. I never saw one while on foot.

I am sure these weren't typical coyotes--there had to be some other factor at work--breeding with domestic dogs, someone attempted to domesticate them as pups so they weren't afraid of people, disease, etc.

 

[NSBound]

.........
I am sure these weren't typical coyotes--there had to be some other factor at work--breeding with domestic dogs, someone attempted to domesticate them as pups so they weren't afraid of people, disease, etc.

Apparently they have autopsied the one that was killed but haven't announced their findings yet. The second animal is still on the loose with 5 trackers chasing it.

 

[brin]

I'm with you...All hikers should be armed and use deadly force..Give me a break ! what is more important ---some scraggly ole Coyote , bear etc. or a human being...no contest and laws that prevent folks from potecting their lives are laws that should be broken and let a jury decide. Just my opinion.