Residents are howling at the sight of coyotes
- Thread starter gunsmith
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He was a fat one too.
DonP
Member
Got a pack in my back yard
We have about three acres that backs up on a 20 acre plus "Prairie Park" and we're right along an old railroad right of way that's been turned into a bike and hiking trail that runs from the Indiana border to the Mississippi. We're pretty much right on the Wild Kingdom highway. We're only about 15 miles from downtown Chicago.
The back of my lot is all wooded and brush covered and at night, when the train horn sounds, they start wailing. They are about 75 feet or so from our patio and we've seen them wandering around late at night while we sit in the screen house. For the most part they can't be bothered with us.
I put them in the same category as the Gray Fox den we have back there or the Cooper Hawk that terrorizes my bird feeders once in a while. Part of the natural environment.
The coyotes solved the problem of my neighbor's cats digging up my flower beds and letting their yappy little dog run loose and pee on my rose bushes day and night at their convenience.
I know they are going to avoid us when they can, but with the risk of rabies (we have a lot of raccoons and possums wandering around too) when we go for a walk later in the day or early evening I just drop a .380 in my pocket.
We have about three acres that backs up on a 20 acre plus "Prairie Park" and we're right along an old railroad right of way that's been turned into a bike and hiking trail that runs from the Indiana border to the Mississippi. We're pretty much right on the Wild Kingdom highway. We're only about 15 miles from downtown Chicago.
The back of my lot is all wooded and brush covered and at night, when the train horn sounds, they start wailing. They are about 75 feet or so from our patio and we've seen them wandering around late at night while we sit in the screen house. For the most part they can't be bothered with us.
I put them in the same category as the Gray Fox den we have back there or the Cooper Hawk that terrorizes my bird feeders once in a while. Part of the natural environment.
The coyotes solved the problem of my neighbor's cats digging up my flower beds and letting their yappy little dog run loose and pee on my rose bushes day and night at their convenience.
I know they are going to avoid us when they can, but with the risk of rabies (we have a lot of raccoons and possums wandering around too) when we go for a walk later in the day or early evening I just drop a .380 in my pocket.
ZeSpectre
Member
It's not just CA.
Here in northern VA we're having a pretty major upswing in the fox population. As you may imagine lots of kitty cats have started dissappearing and a tiny (but growing) number of voices are starting to raise a ruckus over these "dangerous predators".
What I can't stop laughing over is that the people who are so shocked that foxes exist live in places called.. "Foxchase" and near "Fox mill road" and "Fox's crossing" or "Fox Blvd". Good GOD people, where do you think the names CAME from in the first place!?!
Here in northern VA we're having a pretty major upswing in the fox population. As you may imagine lots of kitty cats have started dissappearing and a tiny (but growing) number of voices are starting to raise a ruckus over these "dangerous predators".
What I can't stop laughing over is that the people who are so shocked that foxes exist live in places called.. "Foxchase" and near "Fox mill road" and "Fox's crossing" or "Fox Blvd". Good GOD people, where do you think the names CAME from in the first place!?!
XLMiguel
Member
+1 ZeS-
I lived inside the beltway in Falls Church. I have seen deer, fox, possum, raccoon in my front yard ( usually around daybreak, but I've seen deer midday and afternoon, too). I have also seen good sized 'dog' tracks following deer tracks down by Pimmit Run that I strongly suspect were coyote, and coyotes are a known quantity in NoVA. Two summers ago they found cougar tracks by the Dulles Toll Rd.
Nature adapts.
I lived inside the beltway in Falls Church. I have seen deer, fox, possum, raccoon in my front yard ( usually around daybreak, but I've seen deer midday and afternoon, too). I have also seen good sized 'dog' tracks following deer tracks down by Pimmit Run that I strongly suspect were coyote, and coyotes are a known quantity in NoVA. Two summers ago they found cougar tracks by the Dulles Toll Rd.
Nature adapts.
ezypikns
Member
When I lived in the country....
I had a bunch who lived in the woods behind my place. I left them alone, and they left us alone. It's pretty exciting to see one early in the morning, standing still in the back of your lot, and you have one trot by no more than ten yards away. Also neat to hear them tune up occasionally in the evenings. I don't know of many wilder sounds.
I guess what's a little disconcerting is that many of these animals in California seem to have lost their natural fear of humans. Not a good thing for them or people.
I had a bunch who lived in the woods behind my place. I left them alone, and they left us alone. It's pretty exciting to see one early in the morning, standing still in the back of your lot, and you have one trot by no more than ten yards away. Also neat to hear them tune up occasionally in the evenings. I don't know of many wilder sounds.
I guess what's a little disconcerting is that many of these animals in California seem to have lost their natural fear of humans. Not a good thing for them or people.
fspitzdorf
Member
Last summer i was doing morning chores before heading off to work.. walked to the barn with my lab to take care of the chickens... the big guy was off on a sprint around the barn and was going nuts. When i got to him at the back of the barn i saw 2 coyotes in the outside chicken pen (i close the birds up inside at night) trying desperately to get through the chicken wire... it was quite interesting.... 100 lbs of lab on one side... 2 40 lb yotes on the inside... and only chain link fence seperating them...til this day i am not sure HOW they got in as the fence is just over 6 feet and protrudes into the ground, guess they climbed or jumped... anywho... 2 rounds from the 686 and they never did find a way out...
Plenty of them around here... hear them nearly every night in the distance... but those are the only ones i've had close ot the house... for me... they are targets of opportunity...
Plenty of them around here... hear them nearly every night in the distance... but those are the only ones i've had close ot the house... for me... they are targets of opportunity...
Leatherneck
Member
Wildlife folks say EVERY county in Virginia has permanent 'yotes. Down at the River a father and son recently shot three coyotes at once-they ranged from 45-60 pounds!
TC
TC
SSN Vet
Member
Might I suggest a 150 gr of copper coated lead.
Why would a natural predator ever be scared sheeple? These folks couldn't scare a flee.
this I like....
Manedwolf
member
Ironically, coyotes are more of a threat to suburban humans than wolves could ever be, and in fact, wolves help keep coyote populations DOWN. They keep the population of foxes, another scavenger, down too.
Wolves are pack hunters, they prefer to run down big game, and generally flee from humans. If you ever even SEE a wolf in the wild, it'll likely be a long-distance glimpse of a pack, or a momentary flash of eyes in the woods before it runs off.
Coyotes, though, are lone scavengers by nature. They will come rummage in trash cans, love carrion, and might attack pets left out in yards to eat. They're also far more likely to get rabies, even by being bitten by a rabid dog.
The biggest thing is to NOT FEED THEM, as they then lose their fear of humans. Even if you like watching them, the best reaction to a coyote spotted in the suburbs is to blow your car horn, shout and chase it off, scare it into thinking that these "people" things are something to be avoided. It's better for everyone.
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Western Nevada
Broad daylight in the right spots.
Crepuscule in most others.
Handsome, well-fed, trotting or loping across a field of cattle furniture, looking for rabbits and squirrels and random other rodents.
They tend to avoid the hawks and owls, though.
Of course, once you're away from built-up areas, they're regarded as pests if you raise chickens or other "food" stock.
Rabbits, though, can put a real hurt on a man's agriculture. Some ranchers will actually buy you the ammo.
Broad daylight in the right spots.
Crepuscule in most others.
Handsome, well-fed, trotting or loping across a field of cattle furniture, looking for rabbits and squirrels and random other rodents.
They tend to avoid the hawks and owls, though.
Of course, once you're away from built-up areas, they're regarded as pests if you raise chickens or other "food" stock.
Rabbits, though, can put a real hurt on a man's agriculture. Some ranchers will actually buy you the ammo.
MD_Willington
Member
LOL...
See them all the time... they come into town and eat the neighbors feral cats.
See them all the time... they come into town and eat the neighbors feral cats.
"As a general rule, if you see coyotes in the middle of the day, they are starving or sick. Neither of which is acceptable."
General rule???? Hmmmm. Maybe in Texas.
Not in these parts. Nor in the western States where I've hunted and camped. Nor in parts of Calif., when I used to hunt and boonie bust there.
Not at all unusual to see them out in the middle of the day... and they ain't sick and they ain't starving. Look mighty healthy.
In L.A., I used to see them n Laurel Canyon, Benedict Canyon, and Coldwater Canyon, daytime and night. They used to come from the canyons into Studio City and Hollywood, and have gourmet lunches of pet cats and occasionally a small pet dog or two.
Speaking of Western Nevada, while driving several times from Idaho to Reno, and back, I've seen coyotes hunting out in the fields between Reno and Winnemucca, and on up north to Jordan Valley, Oregon. Always in the daytime.
As for the usual hysteria by the woooses of L.A., and the left wing media... what else is new??
L.W.
General rule???? Hmmmm. Maybe in Texas.
Not in these parts. Nor in the western States where I've hunted and camped. Nor in parts of Calif., when I used to hunt and boonie bust there.
Not at all unusual to see them out in the middle of the day... and they ain't sick and they ain't starving. Look mighty healthy.
In L.A., I used to see them n Laurel Canyon, Benedict Canyon, and Coldwater Canyon, daytime and night. They used to come from the canyons into Studio City and Hollywood, and have gourmet lunches of pet cats and occasionally a small pet dog or two.
Speaking of Western Nevada, while driving several times from Idaho to Reno, and back, I've seen coyotes hunting out in the fields between Reno and Winnemucca, and on up north to Jordan Valley, Oregon. Always in the daytime.
As for the usual hysteria by the woooses of L.A., and the left wing media... what else is new??
L.W.
Lupinus
Member
nomrally I would say shoot them....but this holds to much entertainment value and simply must be allowed to continue.
cracked butt
Member
Therein lies part of the problem, the same people who are scared witless by the coyotes are the same people who are probably the most vocal anti-hunters and anti-trappers
I like the entertainment value also.
In a place where I used to work at the edge of an industrial park, we saw coyotes all of the time. In the middle of the night I would have to take a 1/4 ile walk to the warehouse at times and the coyotes could always be heard yipping and yapping, and often times crossed my path. No big deal- coyotes aren't exactly comfortable around humans, those that have hunted them could testify to that.
These people should move to suburban or rural Wisconsin, there are lots of little things that go bump in the night here to terrify these people. Oh wait, we really don't want those people here.
I live in south Tx. and many times have seen coyotes in the middle of the day.At noon one time ,we had to stop our car to let a family of several adults and little ones cross to the other side(country road).The adults had to walk slowly to protect the little ones who were walking as fast as they could.Personally I find coyotes to be part of nature,and very interesting.
MikeG
Member
I find it interesting that in a place that has earthquakes; brush fires and Santa Ana winds; mudslides, deranged politicians (more than usual), and rampant gangs, the residents have hissy fits over inoffensive little coyotes.
ezypikns
Member
You do see them in the daytime occasionally,
even in Texas. I've see adult coyotes at least twice, once around 7:30 in the morning, once around 4:00 in the afternoon, sitting on their haunches and watching rush hour traffic go down LBJ Freeway in Dallas.
even in Texas. I've see adult coyotes at least twice, once around 7:30 in the morning, once around 4:00 in the afternoon, sitting on their haunches and watching rush hour traffic go down LBJ Freeway in Dallas.
AStone
Member
Must get pretty boring in 'yoteville between rat kills.
No TV and all, so they watch cars going by...
Gotta be pretty funny, actually, watching all those humans,
stuck in those little metal boxes, driving in line (never outside the lines),
day in, day out, day in, day out, day in, day out...
I'd rather be a 'yote.
AStone
Member
Including humans?
Now there's an interesting study in ethology.
Do coyotes tend to watch traffic more in high accident areas?
gunsmith
member
it was just reported
A Coyote ate a 14 year old cat in Marin County CA.
http://www.marinij.com/marin/ci_5074088
oyote attack stuns San Rafael pet owner
Jennifer Upshaw
Article Launched: 01/24/2007 12:29:40 AM PST
A neighbor said a coyote made off with Gloria Goldsmith's cat, Baby. (Photo provided by Gloria Goldsmith)
A 14-year-old house cat was snatched by a coyote Monday in San Rafael's Bret Harte neighborhood, prompting authorities to remind residents that wild animals make Marin home, too.
"We have a coyote doing what coyotes do," said Cindy Machado, Marin Humane Society animal services director. "Yes, coyotes will eat cats if they have an opportunity."
Society officials received a call at 10:40 a.m. reporting a coyote sighting in the driveway of a home on Hazel Court. The coyote, which ran off, had a cat in its mouth, the caller told authorities.
A half-hour before the incident "he was sunning himself on the deck," said Gloria Goldsmith of her black-and-white cat, Baby. "I saw Baby and he was so happy. He was licking himself.
"I was absolutely stunned," she said after receiving the news from a neighbor who saw the incident. "I was devastated. I've heard stories, but I've never seen or heard a coyote. He must have been very hungry."
Neighbors in Bret Harte said coyotes have been around awhile.
"There's been coyotes around here as long as I've lived here," said Hazel Court resident Barbara Benepe, who has lived in Bret Harte since 1972.
Monday evening, Billou Avenue resident Elaine Mont-Eton was walking Tyke, a
ear-and-a-half-old German shepherd on the fire road near Bret Harte Park when she said she encountered a coyote.
"It was a coyote," Mont-Eton said. "I couldn't figure out what he was barking at. É He was acting very strange. He didn't want to keep going," she said of her dog.
Animal control officials advised being smart, not irrational about sharing space with coyotes.
"It's important people not overreact to this," said Sheri Cardo, the society's spokeswoman. She said a cat is much more likely to be hit by a car than attacked by a coyote.
Pets, especially small dogs and cats, should be supervised outdoors. Tips for keeping neighborhoods coyote-free include:
- Remove all pet food and standing sources of water. In Marin, it is illegal to feed wildlife.
- Keep landscaping, which can house both coyotes and a favorite food source, rodents, trimmed back along houses.
- Make noise if a coyote is spotted - good noisemakers include pots and pans, marine sirens, children's toys - by chasing them, screaming and generally acting big and large.
Coyotes should never be turned into pets, officials said.
Last season, a coyote had to be euthanized after officials learned it was being fed regularly by patrons of a local park, said Melanie Piazza, director of animal care at WildCare in San Rafael.
"That's something that's very important," she said. "If people start feeding them É it results in the death of the animal."
Attempts to domesticate wild animals could have dangerous consequences - in short, don't feed the animals, officials said.
"They see us as little vending machines, and when we're out of order, they get mad," Machado said.
Coyotes are all over Marin. In recent years, they have been spotted in Sausalito, Peacock Gap, China Camp and Terra Linda in San Rafael, as well as near Hamilton in Novato and the Horse Hill area of Mill Valley.
Pet attacks by coyotes are rare in Marin. Officials estimate five incidents have been reported in the last three years.
Last June, a coyote was the prime suspect in the death of James, a 15-year-old tabby living near Horse Hill in Mill Valley. A small dog also died in the area a few years ago, likely the victim of a coyote as well, Machado said.
"There are kind of rules we have to live by. When it's a sad bit of news like this, it really speaks volumes that we have wildlife in Marin," Machado said. "They're here to stay."
A Coyote ate a 14 year old cat in Marin County CA.
http://www.marinij.com/marin/ci_5074088
oyote attack stuns San Rafael pet owner
Jennifer Upshaw
Article Launched: 01/24/2007 12:29:40 AM PST
A neighbor said a coyote made off with Gloria Goldsmith's cat, Baby. (Photo provided by Gloria Goldsmith)
A 14-year-old house cat was snatched by a coyote Monday in San Rafael's Bret Harte neighborhood, prompting authorities to remind residents that wild animals make Marin home, too.
"We have a coyote doing what coyotes do," said Cindy Machado, Marin Humane Society animal services director. "Yes, coyotes will eat cats if they have an opportunity."
Society officials received a call at 10:40 a.m. reporting a coyote sighting in the driveway of a home on Hazel Court. The coyote, which ran off, had a cat in its mouth, the caller told authorities.
A half-hour before the incident "he was sunning himself on the deck," said Gloria Goldsmith of her black-and-white cat, Baby. "I saw Baby and he was so happy. He was licking himself.
"I was absolutely stunned," she said after receiving the news from a neighbor who saw the incident. "I was devastated. I've heard stories, but I've never seen or heard a coyote. He must have been very hungry."
Neighbors in Bret Harte said coyotes have been around awhile.
"There's been coyotes around here as long as I've lived here," said Hazel Court resident Barbara Benepe, who has lived in Bret Harte since 1972.
Monday evening, Billou Avenue resident Elaine Mont-Eton was walking Tyke, a
ear-and-a-half-old German shepherd on the fire road near Bret Harte Park when she said she encountered a coyote.
"It was a coyote," Mont-Eton said. "I couldn't figure out what he was barking at. É He was acting very strange. He didn't want to keep going," she said of her dog.
Animal control officials advised being smart, not irrational about sharing space with coyotes.
"It's important people not overreact to this," said Sheri Cardo, the society's spokeswoman. She said a cat is much more likely to be hit by a car than attacked by a coyote.
Pets, especially small dogs and cats, should be supervised outdoors. Tips for keeping neighborhoods coyote-free include:
- Remove all pet food and standing sources of water. In Marin, it is illegal to feed wildlife.
- Keep landscaping, which can house both coyotes and a favorite food source, rodents, trimmed back along houses.
- Make noise if a coyote is spotted - good noisemakers include pots and pans, marine sirens, children's toys - by chasing them, screaming and generally acting big and large.
Coyotes should never be turned into pets, officials said.
Last season, a coyote had to be euthanized after officials learned it was being fed regularly by patrons of a local park, said Melanie Piazza, director of animal care at WildCare in San Rafael.
"That's something that's very important," she said. "If people start feeding them É it results in the death of the animal."
Attempts to domesticate wild animals could have dangerous consequences - in short, don't feed the animals, officials said.
"They see us as little vending machines, and when we're out of order, they get mad," Machado said.
Coyotes are all over Marin. In recent years, they have been spotted in Sausalito, Peacock Gap, China Camp and Terra Linda in San Rafael, as well as near Hamilton in Novato and the Horse Hill area of Mill Valley.
Pet attacks by coyotes are rare in Marin. Officials estimate five incidents have been reported in the last three years.
Last June, a coyote was the prime suspect in the death of James, a 15-year-old tabby living near Horse Hill in Mill Valley. A small dog also died in the area a few years ago, likely the victim of a coyote as well, Machado said.
"There are kind of rules we have to live by. When it's a sad bit of news like this, it really speaks volumes that we have wildlife in Marin," Machado said. "They're here to stay."
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