Found a coyote, I think

[Rock knocker]

I've never said coyotes are not dangerous. They are. Especially if rabid or hungry. But then, so is a pack of hungry domestic dogs.

Here are a some links to dog attack reports. Two of them are the well known Clifton reports. Merrit Clifton is a journalist and member of Animal People, and is uniformly hated by pit-bull owners for his characterization of pits. But without entering the editorial chatter, both his reports and the CDC report does an admirable job of compiling information. I am particularly impressed Clifton's 2008 analysis and observations upon husky and German Shepard bites. Husky's are involved in quite a few serious bites, but almost all are in Eskimo, Indian and First Nations settlements, where the dogs go feral all summer long.

Clifton report - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://www.dogsbite.org/pdf/dog-attack-deaths-maimings-merritt-clifton-2011.pdf

http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/images/dogbreeds-a.pdf

Dog Attack Deaths Maimings, U.S. & Canada September 1982 to January 2008

I'm sitting her laughing at how silly it all seems. All of this came from a moment of compassion, as my neighbor reached down to pick up a helpless and nearly frozen little handful from the desert floor. That little furball turned into a "vicious killer" that likes to fall asleep on her back as I scratch her tummy, or ride for hours in the car snuggled up next to me.

That's the important part

 

[Raspy]

This brings up several interesting points. I think to a degree that rabies is an effective population management agent, especially for raccoons. But I would imagine that if rabies could be wiped out in North America, the citizens and the governments would be all for it. It just seems that it would be too difficult, there are too many vectors: bats throughout NA, raccoons in the US and Canada, foxes in the north and coyotes in the SW.

I don't think that the body large of anglo North America want coyotes dying an agonizing death of rabies, it is just that the vaccination of wild animals is not viewed as an effective tool for the spread of rabies into humans and their pets. It is better to vaccinate dogs, to warn people of strange acting animals, and to monitor the wild population.

But watching the reaction to wolf repopulation on hiking and hunting boards, as well as in conversation with my environmentally minded friends, I would certainly agree that there is a huge degree of anthropomorphizing wolves and coyotes. Some view the wolf as a noble creature, and others view both as vicious killers of the lowest order. I like looking at coyotes by my house. But I also hope they'll eat the mice and rabbits, and spare the baby deer. I want to hear and see a wolf in the wild, but I wonder how aggressive they really are, even though I know all the statistics.

Rabies - Bulletin - Europe

I completely agree that it would be too difficult to try and vaccinate every animal to wipe out rabies. Seems impossible.

I also get the same sense from people about the wild dogs as you've mentioned. Some are extremely afraid and some are cautious, but interested. This is where I'd like to have some affect. Instead of operating from a position of fear and myth regarding the wild ones, why not find out more? Knowledge is powerful, but also difficult to get. I'm just a very curious type and I tend to discount blind fear of the unknown. Somehow we have to figure out a way to interface with them as our territory expands and their numbers increase.

In Sandy's case I did my own research. Research in all phases of her existence. Her medical needs, temperament, intelligence and instinctual needs, etc. The legal issues surrounding her and the human opinion factor from all that I could expose her to such as neighbors, friends, vets, attorneys, on-line commenters, etc. We took her with us at various ages and did things with her that are only done with domestic dogs. We took her to restaurants, supermarkets, friends houses, long car trips, camping trips. We went to the city and played in the country. We went for long walks and we spent time indoors. She lived with us and our two other dogs and one cat. Met the neighbor's animals too. We made notes, wrote diaries, took photos, watched reactions. You name it.

Of course, this is only one dog, but it was very informative. It certainly revealed the full spectrum of human emotion. Every response imaginable was projected toward her. The reflection revealed more about the person than about Sandy. From wild eyed fear and loathing to nurturing and cuddling. All toward the same dog. No one was ever hurt in any way even though she was definitely out of her natural environment.

One friend I've known for about 30 years was a good example. We visited him and his wife one day. We came in and sat down carrying a little bag. All was fine. After a while we introduced them to our little friend by letting her poke her head out of the bag. Boy did that change the mood! We seriously crossed the line and were acting incredibly stupid. You can't do that!!! Their reaction was far worse than the one from their own dog.

If I would have simply said she was a Shepherd pup, she would have been in everyone's lap within seconds. But the word Coyote made us suddenly unwelcome.

Sometimes it's fun to throw a wrench in the gears, but there can be consequences.

 

[RandyBell]

Rock Knocker; alot of good info, although I still think that rabies could be seriously reduced by oral baiting, the biggest rreason it won't be done over here is politics. The cost would be considerable and Politicians would not what to spend the money on something like this when they could get it for their own use, kinda shows what I've seen from most politicans in the last 40 years. Even if it was used around urban areas I believe it would be a big benifit.

John; there is not an animal that is more dangerous than a pack of domestic dogs that are running wild, even if just temopary. A wild animal unless rabid has a fear of man and will flee if given the chance, a few large carnivors excluded.
That is what makes the wolf-hybrids so dangerous, you have the strength and cunning of the wolf with out the fear of man. I was bitten year ago by a German Shepard, that I had known for a while, but it didn't keep him from biting me and having to be beaten by his owners to get him to let go of me, kinda gave me a heathy respect for large dogs. Anke bitters almost all of the small breeds bite more than the large dogs, we had a Pom that was so bad about it I wore my boots all the time, she was my wifes dog!

Weasle our male wolf( we name all our animals by their personality) has dominance issues and doesn't like to be leaned over, like brushing him, so you work around that, I held him down this morning and my wife brushed him! When it was done he ran to his cage to cool off about 5 minutes then came out and gave kisses to say he forgave us! He is not as tolerent of real small kids as Shadow our female, she just washes their face and keeps watch over them, he will watch them but it doesn't take long for him to ecape to his cage, so when he does this we shut the door so he doesn't get disturbed, it is better safe than sorry.

So you can see so many different personalities in animals and still have a good life with them.

Good luck all

Randy

 

[RandyBell]

Rock Knocker; alot of good info, although I still think that rabies could be seriously reduced by oral baiting, the biggest rreason it won't be done over here is politics. The cost would be considerable and Politicians would not what to spend the money on something like this when they could get it for their own use, kinda shows what I've seen from most politicans in the last 40 years. Even if it was used around urban areas I believe it would be a big benifit.

John; there is not an animal that is more dangerous than a pack of domestic dogs that are running wild, even if just temopary. A wild animal unless rabid has a fear of man and will flee if given the chance, a few large carnivors excluded.
That is what makes the wolf-hybrids so dangerous, you have the strength and cunning of the wolf with out the fear of man. I was bitten year ago by a German Shepard, that I had known for a while, but it didn't keep him from biting me and having to be beaten by his owners to get him to let go of me, kinda gave me a heathy respect for large dogs. Anke bitters almost all of the small breeds bite more than the large dogs, we had a Pom that was so bad about it I wore my boots all the time, she was my wifes dog!

Weasle our male wolf( we name all our animals by their personality) has dominance issues and doesn't like to be leaned over, like brushing him, so you work around that, I held him down this morning and my wife brushed him! When it was done he ran to his cage to cool off about 5 minutes then came out and gave kisses to say he forgave us! He is not as tolerent of real small kids as Shadow our female, she just washes their face and keeps watch over them, he will watch them but it doesn't take long for him to ecape to his cage, so when he does this we shut the door so he doesn't get disturbed, it is better safe than sorry.

So you can see so many different personalities in animals and still have a good life with them.

Good luck all

Randy

 

[Rock knocker]

John; there is not an animal that is more dangerous than a pack of domestic dogs that are running wild.....

Sans one,


And this is what it takes to quell the trouble when the Lakers win

 

[MotorSeven]

Sans one,
And this is what it takes to quell the trouble when the Lakers win

Amazing isin't it...a pack of "wild dogs" is delt with swiftly and harshly....yet humans out "rioting" is darn near tolerated.

 

[MotorSeven]

Sans one,
And this is what it takes to quell the trouble when the Lakers win

Amazing isin't it...a pack of "wild dogs" is delt with swiftly, harshly & appropriatly....yet humans out "rioting" is darn near tolerated.

 

[RandyBell]

MotorSeven I am glad to see you are getting double posts, I was begining to think I was doing something wrong.

 

[biker4jc]

Raspy IT's been a real pleasure to see what you've done with that dog. I'm sorry for the bigotry that she's been subjected to, but then as a species humanity still struggles with that aspect within itself. I'm fairly sure some "foghorn leghorn" will disagree ........... and not be able to substantiate his reasons, just repeat some stoic dogma he's learned by rote and never had the courage to challenge. I would have loved to meet Sandy and may do so yet. This thread was something I found by accident and feel like I've become involved. Like others here I would strongly encourage you to find a way to get this story out to the public via a book and since reading seems to escape much of society, a movie. I'm sure this would make an excellent Disney flick if old Walt were still alive. Like you I feel it necessary to define wild ....... urban teenagers could be classified as wild ........ just a random thought there. And ...... where are the greenpeacers in all this? Are their causes only selective?
Like I said earlier ........ Thank you for allowing us a glimpse of this story!

 

[biker4jc]

Raspy IT's been a real pleasure to see what you've done with that dog. I'm sorry for the bigotry that she's been subjected to, but then as a species humanity still struggles with that aspect within itself. I'm fairly sure some "foghorn leghorn" will disagree ........... and not be able to substantiate his reasons, just repeat some stoic dogma he's learned by rote and never had the courage to challenge. I would have loved to meet Sandy and may do so yet. This thread was something I found by accident and feel like I've become involved. Like others here I would strongly encourage you to find a way to get this story out to the public via a book and since reading seems to escape much of society, a movie. I'm sure this would make an excellent Disney flick if old Walt were still alive. Like you I feel it necessary to define wild ....... urban teenagers could be classified as wild ........ just a random thought there. And ...... where are the greenpeacers in all this? Are their causes only selective?
Like I said earlier ........ Thank you for allowing us a glimpse of this story!