Coyotes

[Randi]

Yesterday, the community met at the hall. There has been a rise in coyotes in the neighbourhood. There were cameras set in the field and an entire pack was caught on camera, during the day time. This field is a 3 minute walk from my house.

I am not worried about letting my dog outside (he is never out alone) as the entire backyard is fenced in, however I am worried about walking him. He's only a Shih Tzu, so size is a concern. What precautions should I take? What happens if I encounter them? Should I make as much noise as possible to scare them, should I pick up my dog and walk backwards without exposing my back to them?

Thank you for any advice that can be offered.

 

[144 Grandpa Turtle]

I would buy some mase !

 

[Randi]

Thank you. I will try to find some.

 

[leigti]

Of course don't let your dog off leash. I was also thinking get some mace. Or maybe something that makes a loud noise. Maybe a whistle? Just be aware of how these things will affect your dog. See if other people want to walk their dogs and you can go together. Coyotes shouldn't bother you in the middle of the day but I hear that they are getting braver now and getting more used to humans. Maybe @Tom would have some ideas since he is the resident animal expert.

 

[Tom]

Chances are slim they would do anything with an adult human around.

Don't know what the laws are in Canada, but I'd carry a big can of bear spray. Its strong pepper spray with a nozzle design that is not too narrow and not too wide. Directs the spray nicely. A pistol would work too, but I'm not sure your government allows that up there, and you'd need to get trained up and practice a lot for that to be effective.

 

[G-stars]

Coyotes should leave you alone, but keep an eye on your dog. Day or night, I've seen coyotes walking on sidewalks at 10am and as early as 6pm.

 

[keepergale]

Picking your little dog up is a good idea if you run into coyotes. We have had our chihuahua stalked by a coyote in Yellowstone. We picked up our dog and it certainly seemed to remove the prey signal for the coyote.

 

[ascott]

Yesterday, the community met at the hall. There has been a rise in coyotes in the neighbourhood. There were cameras set in the field and an entire pack was caught on camera, during the day time. This field is a 3 minute walk from my house.

I am not worried about letting my dog outside (he is never out alone) as the entire backyard is fenced in, however I am worried about walking him. He's only a Shih Tzu, so size is a concern. What precautions should I take? What happens if I encounter them? Should I make as much noise as possible to scare them, should I pick up my dog and walk backwards without exposing my back to them?

Thank you for any advice that can be offered.

http://terriblyterrier.com/do-coyotes-attack-dogs/

I only attach this to show you the speed in which these magnificent creatures move (I say magnificent only because they truly are a perfect machine in alot of ways...the problem is when wild encounters domestic of course)....if you are going to walk your dog I would be very aware that a predator can remove your dog from your clutches with great speed and determination...a wild animal works much different than we, domesticated ones normally do....likely a wild animal looking to snatch a dog from a yard or a street will stalk for a few days at least and will not be seen doing so until it is during the move of the wild animal....

We have coyotes here in the high desert ...we had one in our yard, on our porch a few times (due to the stray cats) we locked eyes a few feet away from one another a couple of times....the thing that changed that was that the coyote ended up dead on the nearby road....that just means that one here is not going to be an issue...not that another won't later become an issue....

Be aware, if you see a coyote in front of you....also know that if they are working together then keep an eye behind and besides you---it is not unusual for them to come in pairs or more if they are hunting/starving....it is not unusual for one to lure your attention and another to slip in quickly for the attack...if you see one or more....make lots of noise...make yourself look at big and harmful as possible....if you need to charge the animal, do so with fierceness and do not stop the charge until the animal tucks and runs....do not turn and run with your back to the animal....best of luck...understand, they are a necessary part of the food chain..but can also be dangerous when they try to make humans part of their perceived food chain....

 

[144 Grandpa Turtle]

I would buy some mase !

But be careful witch way the wind is blowing

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I have no experience with coyotes. However, while on a fishing trip to Lake Mead two years ago, the guide told me that he used WOLF urine around his property to scare them away from his livestock.
Now, I can't begin to tell you where you can find it, but, apparently the smell of wolf urine is enough to send them packing.

 

[Len B]

Wasp and Hornet spray is legal to posses and works great as a deterrent and shoots pretty far too. I like the pistol suggestion also, if possible.

 

[Randi]

Thank you all for your advice!!

Guns would be illegal and as far as I know, bear mace is illegal here. I like the wasp and hornet spray idea.

I believe the community is fearful due to the fact that two elementary schools utilize this field during recess, etc..

We have had the coyotes in the back alley ripping up garbage bags so we have ours in bins, and we wait until garbage day to put the bags out so there's no access. My mom saw an entire pack walk down the street one morning.

I guess during the winter time, a lady and her three dogs (2 large and 1 small) were stalked. The coyotes gave chase to the little dog, and the owner ended up stuck in an embankment. She had to be rescued because the embankment was too steep to climb out of.

 

[Tom]

Another technique that has been successful for some is to condition the wild animals to fear humans and stay far away. Some people shoot them in the butt with paintball or bb guns. It does no real damage to the animal, but it stings. All the while they are running away, they are thinking of how bad it is to be anywhere near humans. This may sound mean at first, but an animal that avoids humans and human habitation is much more likely to have a happy life out in the wild.

I love observing animals in the wild, but when they lose their innate fear of people and become de-sensitized, it usually leads to their death. An wild animal that is terrified of humans is a wild animal that will stay alive.

 

[kathyth]

I live in high coyote territory and see them frequently, in the early evenings or mornings.
I have carried bear spray for years. My real reason for carrying it was domestic dog attacks, which have happened at our place in the mountains.
Bear spray will stop anything, but f you spray into the wind, you will be the victim.

 

[G-stars]

Thank you all for your advice!!

Guns would be illegal and as far as I know, bear mace is illegal here. I like the wasp and hornet spray idea.

I believe the community is fearful due to the fact that two elementary schools utilize this field during recess, etc..

We have had the coyotes in the back alley ripping up garbage bags so we have ours in bins, and we wait until garbage day to put the bags out so there's no access. My mom saw an entire pack walk down the street one morning.

I guess during the winter time, a lady and her three dogs (2 large and 1 small) were stalked. The coyotes gave chase to the little dog, and the owner ended up stuck in an embankment. She had to be rescued because the embankment was too steep to climb out of.

Don't want to alarm you further but I've seen/heard of coyotes attacking young children in Southern California. I don't think there has been any fatalities yet though.

 

[G-stars]

I stand corrected, there has been two confirmed fatalities due to a coyote attack. One in California and one in Canada.

 

[Yvonne G]

I see coyotes all the time, early mornings, running down my street as they go home after a night of hunting. I've never ever considered them a threat. I am living in their territory.

 

[144 Grandpa Turtle]

I live in high coyote territory and see them frequently, in the early evenings or mornings.
I have carried bear spray for years. My real reason for carrying it was domestic dog attacks, which have happened at our place in the mountains.
Bear spray will stop anything, but f you spray into the wind, you will be the victim.

It sounds funny but as I said earlier it's true Watch The Wind !

 

[Tom]

I stand corrected, there has been two confirmed fatalities due to a coyote attack. One in California and one in Canada.

Please understand that this is VERY VERY rare and unlikely. I have been living in and around coyote territory my whole life. Never had one problem. I see them running all over the place daily out here and around my ranch.

Yes it is physically possible for them to attack people, but it is just such a rare occurrence. You are more likely to be struck by lighting twice. Maybe three times. Dogs and cats, well that's a different story...

 

[G-stars]

Please understand that this is VERY VERY rare and unlikely. I have been living in and around coyote territory my whole life. Never had one problem. I see them running all over the place daily out here and around my ranch.

Yes it is physically possible for them to attack people, but it is just such a rare occurrence. You are more likely to be struck by lighting twice. Maybe three times. Dogs and cats, well that's a different story...

I do understand that it is very rare occurrence. I also see/hear packs of coyotes on a regular basis. I just simply ignore them, however I don't leave my small pets in reach of them as they have taken small pets around my neighborhood.

On the other hand small children should not be left unattended for multiple reasons. There are much bigger threats then coyotes.