I live in a nice suburban area in mukilteo wa, so I'm not quite sure how to deal with aggression in wild animals. We've never had anything besides the occasional deer wandering into our yards. This is not rural by any means, it's ocean front suburban property with some greenbelts here and there. Recently a coyote has shown up, along with reports that it's been eating the neighborhood pets. This coyote has been seen with increasing frequency now intruding on the greenbelt behind our yard, and about a week ago our cat went missing. This angered me of course, but I decided to just wait a week and cool down without making any decisions. But today, the coyote was actually following my mother as she walked our dog in daylight. Is this normal behavior? I have some concerns that it may be rabid. The fact that it's been stalking the neighborhood eating pets, as well as it's new aggression is causing me to consider just shooting it the next time I see it. It's been stalking around our yard and we've seen it every day the last 3 days. Our dog is at least twice it's size, and was going nuts barking and trying to get at it, but it just stood there watching my mother and her undeterred. Any advice from people who've dealt with similar problems with predatory animals, or those from rural areas who know something about coyotes would be appreciated.
Aggressive, pet eating coyote advice
- Thread starter razorburn
- Start date
- Status
BullfrogKen
Moderator Emeritus
I shoot coyotes that have lost their fear of humanity. Are you unable to resolve the problem this way?
Do you have a law about using a firearm against an agressive (for lack of a better term) animal? What about using force to protect the lives of household pets?
Those would be good guidelines to keep your butt out of trouble.
If it were stalking my mom, we'd have a new coyote-skin rug in front of the fireplace.
stdlrf11
Those would be good guidelines to keep your butt out of trouble.
If it were stalking my mom, we'd have a new coyote-skin rug in front of the fireplace.
stdlrf11
sparky2726
Member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2006
- Messages
- 67
Your best bet is to find a good trapper, and let them take care of it. I would do it, but your a long way from VA. Go to www.trapperman.com and place a post on there. Someone there should be able to help you.
I get alot of flack about trapping animals instead of shooting them. My thinking in the matter is that I can set the traps, and they are working 24/7, instead of me out there waiting on the animal to come around for a few hours. Also, the traps will work just fine in urban areas where it is both illegal and dangerous to shoot.
Sparky
I get alot of flack about trapping animals instead of shooting them. My thinking in the matter is that I can set the traps, and they are working 24/7, instead of me out there waiting on the animal to come around for a few hours. Also, the traps will work just fine in urban areas where it is both illegal and dangerous to shoot.
Sparky
No_Brakes23
Member
Don't we have animal control up here in Snohomish county?
Failing that, how about a pellet gun? Unless it is in self defense, (Which could happen if it's hounding your mom,) I think public discharge of firearms is illegal east of Highway 9.
I wonder if it is legal to hit a 'yote with a paintball marker. Crank that thing up to about 400psi, and I guarantee he won't like getting hit with it.
Failing that, how about a pellet gun? Unless it is in self defense, (Which could happen if it's hounding your mom,) I think public discharge of firearms is illegal east of Highway 9.
I wonder if it is legal to hit a 'yote with a paintball marker. Crank that thing up to about 400psi, and I guarantee he won't like getting hit with it.
sparky2726
Member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2006
- Messages
- 67
Animal control (at least in most places) only deals with domestic animals, not wild. Also, a pellet gun would not be effective at all on a yote. I have made head shots on them with 22lr at very short range, and they not go down right away. They are tough boogers
Sparky
Sparky
There is also need for concern about backstops and homes unless the coyote is just in the greenbelt and valley behind the house where the very high hillside will allow safe shooting. I am also unsure of the legality of discharging a firearm within city limits, it's not as matter of fact like it would be for those in a more rural part of the state. The nonemergency lines look to be closed now, so tomorrow we will be contacting police department to ask what we can do. If I had been there during its attack on our cat or when was stalking my mother/dog it would be dead by now, because their safety is more important than some fine I might get. But I don't know whether it'd be legal to just shoot it the next time I see it if it is just standing there, or if I can only discharge a firearm in a real emergency circumstance and actually having to wait for an attack to be occuring, which I very much do not want to wait for especially if it is rabid. The dog's barking fortunately stopped the animal from approaching any closer today, although it didn't drive it away. My mother was considering just releasing our dog when at the time because it was not leaving and she did not want to turn her back to it or run, but was worried about rabies and losing our dog if it is diseased. I know washington hunting regulations, in that coyotes can be hunted year round with no bag limit with any hunting license, but am unsure how it goes when it's done as pest control for a problem animal. Right now my parents and neighbors we've talked to are particularly worried about rabies and continuing lost pets. Our nearest neighbor has taken to carrying a pellet pistol when going out for walks in the area, but it doesn't seem practical as they're rather large for day to day carry, and unable to stop an attack if the animal is actually rabid as it's aggression indicates. I'd encourage my parents to get their own ccw, but that takes about a month. I've taken over dog walking duties as of now and carrying a .357 revolver, but I'll be going back to school for the next week.
sparky2726
Member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2006
- Messages
- 67
I did some research, and you will need to get a permit to have it trapped.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/trapping/index.htm
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=232-12-142
When your state lost the use of foothold traps, you lost the most effective tool to control animals such as this one. I would say this will be MUCH more common there soon, as well as being overrun by beaver.
Sparky
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/trapping/index.htm
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=232-12-142
When your state lost the use of foothold traps, you lost the most effective tool to control animals such as this one. I would say this will be MUCH more common there soon, as well as being overrun by beaver.
Sparky
marksman13
Member
paintball gun might scare it, or it might piss it off. I wouldn't want to risk the latter. Contact your local wildlife conservation officer and I am sure he will be able to help you out. Better to play it safe and not shoot inside of city limits, never know where kids might be playing.
The-Fly
Member
shoot, shovel, shutup.
sacp81170a
Member
Coyotes are like roaches, if you see one, you can be sure there's a lot more that you're not seeing.
swampdog
Member
If shooting it with a gun is illegal, how about using a bow?
To get a fine for discharging a firearm, I'd think one of your neighbors would need to call and complain. I'd talk to my close neighbors and
One of the guys that works for me lost a cat to a coyote last week. He bought an electronic caller from walmart and sat out back. It took 2 evenings and a .22lr to solve his problem.
Good Luck
To get a fine for discharging a firearm, I'd think one of your neighbors would need to call and complain. I'd talk to my close neighbors and
One of the guys that works for me lost a cat to a coyote last week. He bought an electronic caller from walmart and sat out back. It took 2 evenings and a .22lr to solve his problem.
Good Luck
stevelyn
Member
I'd shoot the coyote if it were reasonably safe to do so. One shot is a car backfiring
and depending on the time of day it's doubtful anyone would notice. Especially if you shot from inside your house with a rimfire where the majority of the noise would be contained.
I whack things from time to time with a .223 and the neighbors have never noticed and if they do they think I'm putting a bear to flight.
and depending on the time of day it's doubtful anyone would notice. Especially if you shot from inside your house with a rimfire where the majority of the noise would be contained.I whack things from time to time with a .223 and the neighbors have never noticed and if they do they think I'm putting a bear to flight.
mikewalker
Member
BLOW GUN ANY ONE?
Just flashed back to a problem a Veterinarian I used to work for had. She came out of her Magnolia Condo to find her two 23lb cats
(Big Tabbies) staring down a Coyote that showed no fear of them or her. Her fear was not Rabbies, very rare in Wa. but Distemper, very common. After striking out with Seattle Animal Control she came up with this; A blow gun loaded with the drug darts available to her as an animal doctor. I left her employ before finding out how it worked, close to your Vet?
My choice would be a high end co2 semi-auto air rifle with a bowl of Alpo in the yard. Anti-Freeze is very sweet and toxic but might wind up killing the neighbors pets also.
Once saw London Animal Control solve a similar problem, using a .30cal Air Rifle powered by a Scuba Tank...2000fps if I remember right.
Hmm?
Honest Officer! The Silencer is for Pest Control, don't wanna wake the neighbors do I?
Just flashed back to a problem a Veterinarian I used to work for had. She came out of her Magnolia Condo to find her two 23lb cats
(Big Tabbies) staring down a Coyote that showed no fear of them or her. Her fear was not Rabbies, very rare in Wa. but Distemper, very common. After striking out with Seattle Animal Control she came up with this; A blow gun loaded with the drug darts available to her as an animal doctor. I left her employ before finding out how it worked, close to your Vet?My choice would be a high end co2 semi-auto air rifle with a bowl of Alpo in the yard. Anti-Freeze is very sweet and toxic but might wind up killing the neighbors pets also.
Once saw London Animal Control solve a similar problem, using a .30cal Air Rifle powered by a Scuba Tank...2000fps if I remember right.
Hmm?
Honest Officer! The Silencer is for Pest Control, don't wanna wake the neighbors do I?
Gordon
Member
Go down to the docks and get a large 2" treble hook. Hang it 30" from the ground with a piece of heavy wire. Sqeeze a ball of hamburger over it. Keep dogs away when you are coyote fishin!
Personally I use a gun.
Personally I use a gun.
Havahart trap
Then throw it in the truck, take it someplace legal, and pop it with a 22LR in the skull. Skin it and you'll have a pelt.
I made a simple live trap as a kid and my brother used it to relocate several raccoons that were menacing a doctor's garbage cans repeatedly. We had a bay separating us from where he dumped them so we did not worry about their return. We did not shoot them. Coyotes may be smart enough to find their way back, I'd suggest terminating it, there are always plenty of coyotes in the world.
jeepmor
Then throw it in the truck, take it someplace legal, and pop it with a 22LR in the skull. Skin it and you'll have a pelt.
I made a simple live trap as a kid and my brother used it to relocate several raccoons that were menacing a doctor's garbage cans repeatedly. We had a bay separating us from where he dumped them so we did not worry about their return. We did not shoot them. Coyotes may be smart enough to find their way back, I'd suggest terminating it, there are always plenty of coyotes in the world.
jeepmor
Mannlicher
Member
either call animal control and pray, or follow the "three S" rule, and handle the situation yourself.
sparky2726
Member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2006
- Messages
- 67
Cage traps are really your only option in WA infortunatly. Yotes can be caught in them, but its not easy, or very effective. Your voters outlawed the most effective tool to control them.
Sparky
Sparky
Skywarp
member
anti freeze.......in someone else's yard
GreatWhiteShark
Member
Might be a good excuse to finally get that crossbow you've always wanted.
Glockfan.45
member
Crossbow is good if you can afford it. Coyotes are the most active just before dawn. Wal-Mart sells a predator call that is remote activated for $25. I have used this call with much sucess . Set the call up where ever you want yotes to be, put a stuffed animal next to it, and use the call (I find rodent to work the best) in short runs of 10-15 seconds every few minutes. Yotes cant resist gets them every time.
On a side note I have always heard that a .22lr fired with a loaf of bread over the muzzle is very quite. Never tried it myself but I bet if you shot something like that through your window nobody outside would notice. I think I would have a some fireworks laying around just incase the po-po's show up. No officer I was just lighting some lady fingers .
On a side note I have always heard that a .22lr fired with a loaf of bread over the muzzle is very quite. Never tried it myself but I bet if you shot something like that through your window nobody outside would notice. I think I would have a some fireworks laying around just incase the po-po's show up. No officer I was just lighting some lady fingers
.BullfrogKen
Moderator Emeritus
No more anti-freeze stuff, ok? Poison isn't selective on what it kills. Nor is it a good idea for your water table to pour that stuff into the ground.
Last edited:
Froggy
Member
Around here, Animal Control handles the wild animals as well as loose domestic animals. If the same is true where you live, give them a call.
In that case, you are good to go unless you are within the city limits. City law here prohibits the discharge of firearms within the incorporated limits UNLESS in self defense, including defense from animal attack. You are right to be concerned about backstop, of course, but your local laws may provide you a similar "out" if you need it. OC or other chemical defense would probably break off an attack, but that is only postponing the inevitable.
As others have said, the situation is only going to get worse, especially as winter sets in. It may be a female and denned up somewhere; it may not be alone; etc. Even if the animal is not rabid, it is rapidly losing its fear of humans. Some of your neighbors might even be feeding the thing.
A few counties over, they had a similar problem in a retirement community popular with folks from out-of-state (read: no prior experience with coyotes). Seems some were feeding the cute animals... all was well and good until they started biting people, about a half-dozen last I heard. Fish & Game came in and killed seven coyotes. None were rabid and, near as they can tell, only one of them had been involved in all the biting episodes. It only takes one.
In that case, you are good to go unless you are within the city limits. City law here prohibits the discharge of firearms within the incorporated limits UNLESS in self defense, including defense from animal attack. You are right to be concerned about backstop, of course, but your local laws may provide you a similar "out" if you need it. OC or other chemical defense would probably break off an attack, but that is only postponing the inevitable.
As others have said, the situation is only going to get worse, especially as winter sets in. It may be a female and denned up somewhere; it may not be alone; etc. Even if the animal is not rabid, it is rapidly losing its fear of humans. Some of your neighbors might even be feeding the thing.
A few counties over, they had a similar problem in a retirement community popular with folks from out-of-state (read: no prior experience with coyotes). Seems some were feeding the cute animals... all was well and good until they started biting people, about a half-dozen last I heard. Fish & Game came in and killed seven coyotes. None were rabid and, near as they can tell, only one of them had been involved in all the biting episodes. It only takes one.
I've called animal control and all I got from the woman on the phone was some generic advice about how people need to learn to adjust to share a world with them or some PETA wash like that, suggesting to build a high fence around the property(not economically or practically feasible), and to be assertive and use noisemakers when confronted by an aggressive animal. But if a 90lb barking German Shepard wasn't enough, I want something more direct as a deterrent. They did tell me that rabies has not been found in WA's coyotes, which was comforting, although there are other diseases to watch for. It also looks like there's been a string of coyote attacks in this area in last few months where none existed previously, with 2 attacks involving kids and 2 more bites with women out walking, 1 walking her dog.
I've done some research, and it looks like coyotes are extremely difficult to trap. And the traps aren't that cheap. Thanks for the crossbow idea, but I do have a bow, and am actually very proficient with it as I've been shooting archery long before I was involved with firearms. I've been shooting with archery gear since I was 12 and barely strong enough to draw a bowstring. I haven't shot for a while as the firearms bug took over. The most appropriate bow I still have is a bowtech extreme solo at 70# with 29" draw, and I could consistently hit a tennis ball at 25 yards back in the day. I think I'll be purchasing the cheapest license available, and my CCW will 6", scoped .357 revolver loaded with 158gr softpoints at 1350fps. Now I just need to learn some things about coyote hunting.
I've done some research, and it looks like coyotes are extremely difficult to trap. And the traps aren't that cheap. Thanks for the crossbow idea, but I do have a bow, and am actually very proficient with it as I've been shooting archery long before I was involved with firearms. I've been shooting with archery gear since I was 12 and barely strong enough to draw a bowstring. I haven't shot for a while as the firearms bug took over. The most appropriate bow I still have is a bowtech extreme solo at 70# with 29" draw, and I could consistently hit a tennis ball at 25 yards back in the day. I think I'll be purchasing the cheapest license available, and my CCW will 6", scoped .357 revolver loaded with 158gr softpoints at 1350fps. Now I just need to learn some things about coyote hunting.
- Status
