Coyotes threats?

**Schleprok** · 06-08-2009, 09:07 PM

My 2 cents, coyotes are always a danger. When I was stationed in San Diego, a friend bought a new house, in a new subdivision that had previously been fairly wild land. About 30 miles east of San Diego. Two neighbors had run ins with coyotes. One had a coyote jump the back fence (retaining wall) snatch the family chihuahua while they were outside barbecuing. The second neighbor was walking down the street after dark when a pickup stopped beside her to warn her of the pack of coyotes following. They were close enough to prompt her to get into the truck with a complete stranger.

**Rick** · 06-09-2009, 07:21 AM

Now THERE's a pickup line I'd never thought of. (get it? pickup line? pickup truck?)

I know, I'm bad.

**crashdive123** · 06-09-2009, 07:23 AM

...and just think.....if that danged pick-up truck hadn't come along it might have worked.

**swampmouse** · 06-09-2009, 05:21 PM

I hunted an area in south GA for several years that never seemed to have a coyote problem. Then SUDDENLY it seemed they showed up. Not large animals, but some old photos presented to a trapper and identification complete. Hunted them for a short period but to no good, they took over and really hurt the hunting.

**R.Spencer** · 06-11-2009, 10:05 AM

Biggest threat I've seen is the coydog. Part dog part coyotee. Problem is they are not afraid of humans. Depending on the breed can get ery large. Had a pack that was crossed with a Great dane. These coydogs were 100+ pounds of pure aggrevation. More into killing the locals sheep, calves and colts. But had 1 farmer call me because his wife was confronted by a pack. After 3 weeeks of trapping and hunting them we got them all (I hope) Local game warden said there were no season on them since they were coydogs so we had free roam to do as needed due to the extensive damage they were causing. I would not want to take on a pack of them with only a walking stick. I always carried my glock 19 when traping them and most of the time I had my Marlin 30-30

**Obsidian** · 06-14-2009, 12:49 PM

Some years ago, people were claiming to have seen "mountain coyotes" which are bigger and perhaps more aggressive. Hard to find info on these and some say they don't exist. A couple of links:

http://www.inetours.com/Yosemite/photos/Coyote.html

http://www.nps.gov/history/history/o.../mammals15.htm

We normally have quiet a few of the regular, b-flat coyotes around here (East Bay Area, Calif.), though not so much the last year or two. Comes and goes. There seems to be in infestation of rodents this year, so maybe the Coyotes will return.

I have never seen them do anything but run away from people, even kids when alone. But don't bet on it. If they are hungry enough...

They have killed cats and often pick fights with dogs, if off their leash. Of course, the dogs think "play" while the coyote is thinking something else.

I would definitely go for bear spray and some kind of sharp stick.

Utility workers when dealing with dogs will keep spray or a "dog stick". The latter is a sturdy stick with some kind of cloth on the end, something for the dog to latch on to. While they are so latched, hit them with bear spray.

That, and make yourself look as large as possible.

**Yuma Kutsuu** · 06-14-2009, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by Schleprok

My 2 cents, coyotes are always a danger. When I was stationed in San Diego, a friend bought a new house, in a new subdivision that had previously been fairly wild land. About 30 miles east of San Diego. Two neighbors had run ins with coyotes. One had a coyote jump the back fence (retaining wall) snatch the family chihuahua while they were outside barbecuing. The second neighbor was walking down the street after dark when a pickup stopped beside her to warn her of the pack of coyotes following. They were close enough to prompt her to get into the truck with a complete stranger.

A pack following her. That gives me the willies, I wonder if they were hunting her.

Out of curiosity does anyone know the hunting patterns of Coyotes and how they attack?

**Rick** · 06-14-2009, 04:42 PM

Those are apparently a different breed so, no, I don't know what their habits are.

Around here, they are not very picky. They generally hunt alone and at night. They are carnivorous and generally feed on mammals but they will take bird and snakes if they get the chance. They will even eat carrion if the kill is relatively fresh and they are hungry. They will even eat berries and fruits if they are short on protein.

Occasionally, you will see a pack chase a deer. My wife and I saw 3 chasing a deer across an open field this morning. When they hunt like this they are very similar to wolf. One will take the lead until it begins to tire and hand off the lead to the second coyote and then the third until they finally tire the deer and catch it or the deer somehow escapes.

Does that answer your question?

**jeff_c** · 06-14-2009, 05:35 PM

Here in north Georgia we are seeing more and more ferral dogs than coyotes... but we do have coyotes. The coyotes I have seen have always been dead on the side of the road in rural Ga. (Im a cyclists and travel many of the rural roads).

I live on the edges of an expanse of woods. A pasture next to me, more woods and farms to the west. We hear wild dogs (ferrals) often. They yelp and howl and can scare the living stew out of me! they sound so eerie. I hear them often when walking my two dogs down my long driveway. They will hurry a walk up in a hurry.

My fear is that the pack could cover that pasture land well before I could ever get to my rifle. Usually I jsut head back in with my pups. I have one OLD boy who cant hear any more. He would be an easy target.

When I was a boy I was packing and hunting in North Ga. We were on a friends orchard land and his grandfather came out to check on us. He brought Abner, their old golden. He met us on the edge of the tree line. We were hunting squirells with .410 and .22. It was near dark and out of no where a pack of dogs was on us. Poor Abner did his very best to protect us all but there were 7-8 of them. Fur and teeth everywhere. My buddy's grandfather was in his truck and back out with his .223 before we even knew what to do. He got 3 of them and the rest took off. Abner had to go to the vet but he made it. He lost about half an ear and his tail always had a funny 90 degree turn. He had lots of cuts and scrapes but he gave them a little too. The 3 ferrals that were killed looked "wolf-ish". Probably a rough wild breed.

I will never forget the speed of the attack. To this day I would have no issue whatsoever in taking down a threatening wild dog with any means available. Rifle, pistol, shotgun, blow gun, catapult... whatever.

**Rick** · 06-14-2009, 05:39 PM

Oh, wouldn't you love to have been a fly on the wall when Abner's grandpups were all gathered around.

"Tell us again how you got your ear bitten off, Grandpa Abner."
"Yeah, tell us how you whipped 27 feral dogs single pawed."

**jeff_c** · 06-14-2009, 05:44 PM

LOL! You bet! He was the best dog ever! What a cool old pup. I think it would have been worse if it were not for the loud noises and bullets. My friend and I were young. Probably 13-14. We didn't know what to do. Clearly my friends Grandfather knew what to do! We slept in the house that night! LOL

Originally Posted by Rick

Oh, wouldn't you love to have been a fly on the wall when Abner's grandpups were all gathered around.

"Tell us again how you got your ear bitten off, Grandpa Abner."
"Yeah, tell us how you whipped 27 feral dogs single pawed."

**rat31465** · 06-14-2009, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by Yuma Kutsuu

A pack following her. That gives me the willies, I wonder if they were hunting her.

Out of curiosity does anyone know the hunting patterns of Coyotes and how they attack?

I've read accounts of Female Coyotes in heat going into neighborhoods attracting male dogs. They then make their way back out into the woods where the pack awaits and pounces on the unsuspecting horn dogs.

**Rick** · 06-14-2009, 06:04 PM

That is just so typical isn't it? I wish I had a nickel for every gal that told me....never mind.

**crashdive123** · 06-14-2009, 06:06 PM

Fatal attraction?

**Obsidian** · 06-14-2009, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by Yuma Kutsuu

A pack following her. That gives me the willies, I wonder if they were hunting her.

Out of curiosity does anyone know the hunting patterns of Coyotes and how they attack?

Coyotes are one of the most well adapted critters on the planet. Remember how Roadrunner cartoons would always start off introducing the Coyote with some made-up biological name? One was "eatamus anythingus", which is pretty accurate. They are survivors.

They've been known to hunt in packs and alone. I know they've taken deer in my neighborhood. I've also watched one waiting outside a gopher hole and pouncing.

**TucsonMax** · 06-17-2009, 12:19 PM

I snapped this picture just 4 nights ago, he’s looking at my backyard. He's full grown and alone. Down in the desert we see them regularly, at least once per month, running behind the house and a few times per year, lost, running around the inside of the neighborhood. Always alone unless Mom w/ pups. Dogs and cats get eaten regularly so all are kept indoors. They are very timid and run at the slightest movement or noise. When one came within 50 feet of me, on the sidewalk, he looked-up, picked up his pace and went back into the wash from where he came. For what it’s worth, living here nearly a decade, there have been no reports of one ever attacking a human. And this is even after threat of heat exhaustion and death. They hunt at night and we are sometimes awoken by their howls and kills of javelina (large wild pigs that run in packs of 8-20.) Of course a rabid one must be shot on site.