Face to face with a Coyote

[creekbend]

Don't know about where you live guys, but twice now I've opened my front door and walked out on the porch only to find a black bear walking away from the house.
Got to the point now that all garbage is 'stored' in the back to my PU in metal cans inside the topper.
Neighbor had a dog (small) taken by coyotes after one got him to chase him into the night and then the pack got him so I go out with my Golden on a leash and my Smith on my hip.

I remember reading in the paper and on the news around six years ago, about a Mother that left her baby on the front porch, while going into the house to get something. When she came out, a coyote was trying to take the baby out of the carrier. The report stated that the Mother chased the coyote off and that the baby was unharmed. The coyote still had the baby's blanket in its mouth. This happened two Counties west of us. We live in the Piedmont region in NC.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I think the coyotes would have to be very desperate to take on a human and a dog. I have encountered coyotes quite often but usually only one at a time and they never have bothered me. The closest was within 15 yards and he just turned and ran away. If I am carrying a pistol I never see one let alone one thats in range so I don't usually carry unless I feel its a good day to. I think most people are just intimidated by them but if for some reason I did find myself having to face off I would just charge and fight (if the sight of me charging didn't scare them or make them die of laughter). I'm slow and there is no way I would out run one even if I wasn't as fast as a turtle so why turn your back on them. They like to chase prey, don't act like prey. Act like a hunter and go right after them and live to tell the story of how you killed a coyote with your bare hands. :thumbsup:

 

[big e]

About 6 months ago a coyote came into the back yard. It was very distinctive in its color and markings. This was at 8 am. I went up to get my revolver but he saw me through the sliding glass door and slinked away. At 11 Am, there was a report that a coyote had been killed 7 miles up the road from me after attacking a lady and her dog going for a walk. As my wife works at the vets that the pooch was brought to, the police brought the coyote who had been hit by a car to the office as her vet is a coyote document and tracking station and the head had to be amputated and sent to the state. It was the same coyote I saw in my back yard and indeed reports came back a couple weeks later that it was rabid. As the lady did not have her dog vaccinated and did not have the cash for the 8 week quarantine, the pooch had to be put down. I would take no chances with any coyote I saw during the day because that in itself should mark that something may not be right for that coyote. I would just walk away and avoid any confrontation if at all possible. If you are in this kind of territory and not armed, a walking stick would be an essential piece of equipment in my mind with any stroll.

You saw a rabid coyote at 8am. It then traveled 7 miles in 3 hours to attack a lady and dog only then to be struck dead by a passing car?
It was then taken to a "coyote document and tracking station", to have its head cut off to be sent to the state?
And, sometime during de-noggining you were able to recognize this road killed coyote as the very one you saw earlier in the day in your back yard?
Were you on the Warren Commission?

 

[20 20]

I agree, in fact he gave it away at pne point.
Looks like there's not much to do there so I can't really blame the guy for entertaining himslf with what is avaiable.
He did seem to confuse this wild animal with a dog at times. No harm done. If he gets bit
Then he will have learned the hard way

The only problem with this train of thought is what about others, children or those that are frail. This person might have the intentions of doing something inoccent but what problems might he be creating for others? I don't particularly care for coyotes but do believe they have their place.

 

[WayneB]

We have several of them around our place and hear them almost every night. Lot of cats, chickens, turkeys missing all around us? We also had a young lad bitten by one in the town next to us.

______________________________________________________________


New Hampshire officials say a teenager walking his dog in Hopkinton was attacked by a coyote and is receiving a course of rabies shots as a precaution.

A Fish and Game wildlife biologist called the Wednesday attack on a human 塗ighly unusual鋳 and said they believe the coyote is rabid because of its uncharacteristically aggressive behavior.

Officials believe the same coyote attacked a dog in Hopkinton earlier in the week. The dog survived, but required veterinary care.


Teen Attacked by Coyote in Hopkinton, N.H. - Outdoor News: New Hampshire


We walk in the woods daily with our dog and now are very concerned although the dog is large and I do believe would scare of a single coyote although a pack would be a different story for sure.

 

[nybirdman]

You saw a rabid coyote at 8am. It then traveled 7 miles in 3 hours to attack a lady and dog only then to be struck dead by a passing car?
It was then taken to a "coyote document and tracking station", to have its head cut off to be sent to the state?
And, sometime during de-noggining you were able to recognize this road killed coyote as the very one you saw eaD

rlier in the day in your back yard?
Were you on the Warren Commission?
Don't know about the rest of the story but;I was on a recent coyote hunt using Fox hounds with GPS trackers;the dogs traveled 56 miles in 12 hours.


:

 

[jymbee]

... if for some reason I did find myself having to face off I would just charge and fight (if the sight of me charging didn't scare them or make them die of laughter).

Several others have posted similar strategies. This would be my tactic as well.

I also agree with those that point out the risk of attack is extremely low. However there seems to be two factors that merit consideration. First, the sheer numbers of coyotes is increasing-- dramatically in some areas. Never even heard of them anywhere around here years ago, but today they're common. Mathematically that increases the likelihood of an encounter.

Secondly, while their natural tendency to avoid humans is well documented, this doesn't account for the threat posed by a rabid coyote. I've encountered rabid coons, foxes, and even a skunk for example and their behavior is unpredictable to say the least.

 

[Ductape]

Like Wayne, we have them around us also. My dog is rarely on a leash, and he has chased off a lone coyote once. I have found a couple deer carcasses in the area, so they are certainly finding food. I don't worry so much, but at times my wife walks our dog without me...... which brings up a question. Would you expect pepper spray to deter a coyote? We keep a small pepper spray on the dogs leash, which is always with us when walking the dog. I'm thinking more for my wife than myself.

 

[dmccarty]

...... which brings up a question. Would you expect pepper spray to deter a coyote? We keep a small pepper spray on the dogs leash, which is always with us when walking the dog. I'm thinking more for my wife than myself.

Pepper is supposed to work on a bear and it usually works on a person so it should work on a coyote. Is that wishy washy answer?

There are two types of pepper spray concoctions, one with alcohol and the other with water. Capsaicin is an oil. Oil and water does not mix well so a can of pepper spray that is water based has to be shaken before use. Having to shake before spraying is not a good think in a defensive spray.

So look for an alcohol based spray. 4-5% is enough for a human. The concentration of spray is only supposed to effect the burn time. 4-5% pepper spray will burn for a good 45-60 minutes. Been there, done that, and got the T Shirt. :laughing:

The spray itself is usually a stream or fog like. The stream will reach out farther than the fog but you have to be accurate with aiming. The stream is also less effected by wind. Key word, "less." The fog does not require great aiming skill but the spray is effected more by wind and the attacker will be closer. Danged if you do, danged if you do not.

If you use pepper spray you will likely be effected by the spray. You might just get a whiff but if the wind shifts or one does not pay attention to the wind direction it can be more than a whiff. :confused2:

Regardless of the spray type, try to paint the attackers face for full effect.

Use the can a bit to practice. Check the direction of wind before practice. :thumbsup: The spray is likely to have an expiration date so buy a new can prior to expiration and use the old can for practice face painting.

Later,
Dan

 

[arrow]

You saw a rabid coyote at 8am. It then traveled 7 miles in 3 hours to attack a lady and dog only then to be struck dead by a passing car?
It was then taken to a "coyote document and tracking station", to have its head cut off to be sent to the state?
And, sometime during de-noggining you were able to recognize this road killed coyote as the very one you saw earlier in the day in your back yard?
Were you on the Warren Commission?

Are you making an inference here of some sort?