Coyotes

[Bird]

Ernie, lots of folks in this area have donkeys in with their cattle, but I've seen only a few with the goats. However, I had heard they were popular guard animals for goats and sheep, too. Of course, I learned the hard way to not put a Jack in with the goats, even a gelding. I've not seen a donkey "chasing" a dog or coyote; i.e., on the run, but I've noticed that every time a dog gets anywhere near, the donkeys just start walking toward the dog and it seems the dogs just instinctively realize they ought to go elsewhere./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

This is an interesting thread.

To condense what has been said here so far:

1. A coyote is a critter taught to seek and kill from birth. It will hunt singly or in packs.

2. A coyote is not afraid of you. It will keep a distance when possible as it recognizes you as a predator, but it is not afraid.

3. A coyote is resourceful, an excellent survivor. It will deal with fences, dogs and men popping up with guns.

4. A coyote will go after anything that it feels an advantage over, whether that thing is larger than itself or not. See items #1 and 3 above.

5. In most areas, a coyote's natural predators have been eliminated, leaving the job to man.

SHF

 

[cowboydoc]

SHF,
That pretty much sums it up /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[woodsinfall]

Thanks to all who have responded. We will keep our dogs in at night, allow them to run on occasion during the day when we are out with them, try to keep them from chasing deer (though a 2 x 4 will never meet our dogs), put their collars back on, try to be good neighbors, and enjoy our little piece of the country. Looking forward asking a few (maybe silly) questions about rural life and sharing experiences.

 

[jinman]

Ernie, I have a friend who has two donkeys and I have seen them in a headlong charge after dogs. Once you see it, you will really be convinced they are the best livestock guard animal around. They become super-territorial. Some folks say it is better to have one than two. I guess one donkey thinks it doesn't have to share with anybody.

JimI

 

[BrianC]

Are coyotes a threat to a lone horse in a pasture?

 

[cowboydoc]

Brian,
If it is in good health and not old or crippled then no. Even a pack of coyotes won't go after a healthy horse. They will knock the tar out of them, the horse that is. The only predator that will go after a horse is a mountain lion. That is unless it is crippled or old. A horse can hold it's own pretty good. The only way that a mountain lion gets a horse is they jump on them from atop trees or rocks. That is why horses buck in the first place. It's a prey response to cats being on their back. Only defense is to buck them off.

 

[Bird]

I've never heard of coyotes attacking a horse, but I do know of two instances in which two dogs killed two horses - one of which was mine./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif My horse was recovering from an illness and the other horse was very old.

Bird

 

[JohnS]

Very imformative thread!

While we have some coyotes around, it is nowhere near the levels some have reported here. On some nights, I have heard them and our dogs sometimes join in, and neighbors have seen them on some rare occasions. Our family is yet to spot one though. We also have a very healthy rabbit population in our headgerow, and the neighbors cat is often seen prowling around behind our yard, hunting field mice.

Some of my preconceptions that have been thrown out with this thread:

- Assumed that they were very timid of man and medium and larger dogs (60+ lbs), and kept far as possible away.
- Assumed they were not organized enough to catch/bring down any healthy hoved, non-calf animals (deer, cows, goats, donkeys, etc)


While we have generaly brought in our dogs every night (on run wires), it will be more religously done now. We will discuss how to handle an encounter in the field with the whole family. My wife an kids might tend to panic, and not do the right thing.

Thanks again for all the input.

 

[BrianC]

Thank you for the information regarding horses and coyotes ...we are new to horse owning and this question keeps coming to mind. We are starting to see more of these animals and they do not seem to be afraid of us when confronted.

Rabies is starting to creep into our area. Would a rabid coyote attack a horse and/or be a threat? I know rabid animals are unpredictable and would attack anything, but I have never heard of a rabid coyote (at least around here, eastern Maine) only small skunks and racoons, etc.

Sorry if this is too far o.t. but it seems there is a wealth of information here....thanks again

brian