Saw a Coyote? on our Land

[eventer79]

Oh dear, please let's don't start the "dingo stole my baby" cry. You can be killed by a dog, ant, lightning, and choking on your own dinner. And let's not even think about death by other people, even by simply getting in your car. The odds of those are ALL higher than a coyote attack.

Rumours love to travel and stories become, in some insane way, "facts." According to more than a few people (and I have no idea how these stories persist), I release black panthers in urban areas and stock rattlesnakes by helicopter. Someone even showed a local "panther" they shot and put in the freezer to a wildlife biologist. It was a big black housecat.

Ecosystems are far more complex than single or dual species management. And past management mistakes and public demands, cooperating with the political winds, has indeed put us in a spot where "things ain't right." We have learned more about conservation and better system management, but often find our hands tied when it comes time to do what needs to be done.

The white-tailed deer is in no danger of blinking out, however, not on the East coast and certainly not from coyote predation. Populations do have natural declines and booms that are a result of a wide array of influences. And if you're out on a single-handed mission to shoot coyotes, well, you'll wear yourself out before you influence anything. Removing an individual creates a niche for the next one. And research has shown us that a coyote population actually increases its reproductive output when under pressure, via increased litter size and more frequent breeding.

Generalist, opportunistic species like the coyote and the opossum and the raccoon will be the ones to thrive with the advance of overpopulation and habitat loss. They are able to take advantage of less-than-ideal habitats and diets in a way that specialists, like grouse and many native fish, cannot. I say good on them for defying the odds and making it in an era when human understanding of, appreciation for, and education about the world they live in is on a precipitous decline.

 

[dave1949]

eventer79: Oh dear, please let's don't start the "dingo stole my baby" cry. You can be killed by a dog, ant, lightning, and choking on your own dinner. And let's not even think about death by other people, even by simply getting in your car. The odds of those are ALL higher than a coyote attack.

I'm on your side. :laughing: But, fact is fact. I'm not sure if anyone figured out what was unique, if anything, about the Canadian attack.

There have always been coyotes on our lot since we bought it 10 years ago. I've had them run down the trail I'm sleeping next to in a tent. They come within 50' of the house routinely and travel the same trails we and the deer do. I sure don't fear being attacked or ambushed by coyotes. I usually go out armed with a Chapstick and a bottle of bug repellent.

The only time I was uncertain was once when out walking the dog, I could hear coyotes moving along another trail not far away. Couldn't see them, but wondered if they happened to come in my direction, would there be some canine on canine interaction. They continued on so I don't know. My guess is that my presence would over-ride anything else.

 

[rsallen]

You left out the dingo ate my home work.

 

[eventer79]

Hey, it's important to know you will not have dry lips or mosquito bites when you get home!!! ;-P

 

[westcliffe01]

That is an ignorant statement: Coyote attacks on humans - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Coyote attacks on humans are uncommon and rarely cause serious injuries, due to the relatively small size of the coyote, but have been increasingly frequent, especially in the state of California. In the 30 years leading up to March 2006, at least 160 attacks occurred in the United States, mostly in the Los Angeles County area.[1] Data from the USDA's Wildlife Services, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and other sources show that while 41 attacks occurred during the period of 1988?997, 48 attacks were verified from 1998 through 2003. The majority of these incidents occurred in Southern California near the suburban-wildland interface.[2]

In the absence of the harassment of coyotes practiced by rural people, urban coyotes are losing their fear of humans, which is further worsened by people intentionally or unintentionally feeding coyotes. In such situations, some coyotes have begun to act aggressively toward humans, chasing joggers and bicyclists, confronting people walking their dogs, and stalking small children.[2] Non rabid coyotes in these areas will sometimes target small children, mostly under the age of 10, though some adults have been bitten.

Although media reports of such attacks generally identify the animals in question as simply "coyotes", research into the genetics of the eastern coyote indicates those involved in attacks in northeast North America, including Pennsylvania, New York, New England, and eastern Canada, may have actually been coywolves, hybrids of Canis latrans and Canis lupus, not fully coyotes.[3]"

"Fatal attacks

Two fatal coyote attacks have been confirmed by experts: the Kelly Keen coyote attack and the Taylor Mitchell coyote attack.

In 1981, in Glendale, California, a coyote attacked 3-year old toddler Kelly Keen in the driveway of her home and ran off with her. She was rescued by her father and rushed to the hospital, but died in surgery due to blood loss and a broken neck.[2][4]

In October 2009, Taylor Mitchell, a 19-year-old Canadian folk singer on break from a concert tour, died from injuries sustained in an attack by a group of eastern coyotes while hiking on the Skyline Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia, Canada.[5]"

"California (1978?003)

A study published in 2004 [6] documented 35 incidents (not all listed) in which a child escaped likely "serious or fatal injury" if the child had not been rescued in time, including:

In May 1978, a coyote bit the leg of a 5-year-old Pasadena girl in the driveway of her home.
In May 1979, a coyote grabbed by throat and cheek a 2-year-old Pasedena girl who had been eating cookies on her front porch.
In July 1979, in Pasadena, coyotes lacerated the leg of a 17-year-old girl who was attempting to save a dog from being attacked.
In August, 1979, a coyote attacked a 5-year-old La Verne girl. Her father and a neighbor saved the child from being dragged off, but not before she had suffered deep bites on neck, head, and legs.
In July 1980, a coyote grabbed a 13-month-old Agoura Hills baby by the midsection and started dragging her off. The baby suffered puncture wounds but was saved by her mother.
In August 1988, a coyote nipped and bruised a 4-year-old Oceanside boy who had been playing in his yard.
In August 1988, a coyote in Oceanside bit the rollerskate of an 8-year-old girl who had just fallen but was chased away by two women throwing rocks.
In August 1988, a coyote in Oceanside grabbed 3-year-old girl by the leg, pulled her down, and then bit her on head and neck before being chased off by her mother and neighbors.
In June 1990, in Reds Meadow, a coyote bit a 5-year-old girl on the head while she was sleeping at a campground.
In May 1992, a coyote attacked a 5-year-old San Clemente girl, biting her several times on her back. The girl climbed her swing set to escape, and her mother chased the coyote off.
In October 1992, in Fallbrook, a coyote bit a 10-year-old boy on the head while he was asleep on back porch of a residence.
In March 1995, in Griffith Park, a 5-year-old girl was knocked down twice by a coyote before being saved by her mother.
In June 1995, a coyote chased three boys on University of California, Riverside property, biting a 7-year-old.
In July 1995, a Griffith Park coyote was chased away once, but returned and bit the leg of a 15-month-old girl.
In September 1995, a coyote attacked a 3-year-old Fullerton girl in her yard, biting her face, head, and thigh.
In November 1995, a coyote at University of California, Riverside chased playing children, biting a 3-year-old boy.
In June 1996, a coyote grabbed a 3-year-old Los Altos boy痴 head and hand and began dragging him toward some bushes before he was saved by his 15-year-old brother.
In February 1997, a coyote severely bit a 4-year-old girl in her yard in South Lake Tahoe. The heavy snowsuit she was wearing protected all but her face, and she was rescued by her father. The coyote stayed in the unfenced yard until police arrived and shot it dead. Earlier that morning, the coyote had bitten the hand of a man who was feeding it.
In May 2000, in La Mesa a 3-year-old boy was bitten on his side, resulting in 4 puncture wounds.
In June 2001, in Northridge, a coyote seriously injured a 7-year-old, but was finally fought off by her mother.
In July 2001, a coyote bit a 3-year-old Irvine boy in the leg while he was playing in his yard. The boy was saved by his father.
In October 2001, in San Clemente, a coyote attacked three children playing on a schoolyard, biting and scratching an 8-year-old girl on back of neck and a 7-year-old boy on the back and arm. A third student was also attacked, but the coyote only bit his backpack.
In November 2001, a coyote that a San Diego family had been feeding bit their 8-year-old daughter.
In December 2001, in San Gabriel, a coyote bit a 3-year-old girl in the head, grabbed her shoulder and started to drag her away, but was chased off by her father.
In May 2002, in Anza-Borrego State Park, a coyote bit a boy, who was sleeping in a sleeping bag, on the head.
In May 2003, in Highland, a coyote came into a neighbor痴 garage chasing after 2-year-old girl, biting her on the arm.
In July 2003, in Granada Hills, a boy was walking his family痴 2 dogs when they were attacked by three coyotes. One dog was killed and the other injured before they were rescued by his father.
In August 2003, in Apple Valley, a coyote attacked a 4-year-old boy on a golf course, biting him on the face and neck before he was saved by his father.
"

The situation in California is in my opinion entirely due to the concentration of people who share your belief regarding protection of wildlife at any price, along with a government which intrusively makes it either difficult or illegal to kill predators which display aggression. The simplest measure of course is a basic prohibition on the discharge of a firearm, which is almost universally applied in all residential areas and numerous counties in that state.

I'd like to see just one instance of a documented event of coyotes or wolves killing a human.
Will they feed on the remains of a dead or deceased human carcass yes.
But for actually taking on and killing human? That is an urban myth that should be refuted at every chance.

 

[oosik]

Wow! I guess size does matter. I'm glad to live where folks have learned to live with predators and don't have the feeling that they need to be managed, thinned or eliminated. You all have a good evening now.

 

[Soundguy]

I found a wiki article.. I know.. wiki.. but the data looks like it could be valid. . human attacks and deaths are rare and far between.. and attributed more to diseased animals. but look to deffinately have occured.

section 3 and below that for the tables.

Wolf attacks on humans - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...=lcWUkuSSehD2zC8cgm422A&bvm=bv.57155469,d.aWc

I can happen apparently but it is very rare.

 

[TomSeller]

. My wife has to escort the dog outside before bedtime. The dog will NOT go outside by itself at night...

Smart dog

 

[dave1949]

I found a wiki article.. I know.. wiki.. but the data looks like it could be valid. . human attacks and deaths are rare and far between.. and attributed more to diseased animals. but look to deffinately have occured.

section 3 and below that for the tables.

Wolf attacks on humans - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I liked the recounted stories with the non-fatal wolf attacks.

I don't doubt there would more US encounters in modern times if there were still wolves in their historic ranges.

 

[westcliffe01]

The owners of the sheep farm I work on most likely share your views. They are dyed in the wool liberals and do not hunt. However, they faced the complete collapse of their business model and not only loss of income, but also loss of capital since the coyotes not only killed the newborn lambs but also their adult ewes.

They pursued their pacifist ideals until it actually cost them real money and put them in a position where they had to earn income off the property to simply pay the property taxes. That was the point at which they contacted me to help with the "problem".

Gentlemen, talk is cheap so long as your beliefs do not cost you anything. Some posters in this thread may not have a conflict of interest with the coyotes since they may not have vulnerable livestock or pets. Others may be vulnerable but it may be more a nuisance than a threat. Others, with small children, poultry, smaller livestock may find that "living" with coyotes is only possible so long as the coyotes continue to maintain a respectable distance. When the "personal space" is violated, typically that coyote has to die. Then one will again have stability for a while until another individual steps out of line.

None of these activities in any way threatens the coyotes existence. Its just the same way as we have laws and a penal system, except that the landowner needs to consider the use of the land, his risks and define what is acceptable to themselves. Given that this is the land of the free, we don't need committees of do-good neighbors or enviro nazis to dictate how we should manage life on our property. When nature conservation folks publish reports of coyote populations at risk of extinction, certainly one could re-consider, but several decades in the recent past suggest there is no way that is going to happen and in truth the exact opposite is occurring.