I had a way too close encounter with a coyote tonight. I was out jogging with my dogs at my normal time of 1 am when they started going nuts. I looked around with my head light and saw a coyote about 50ft away. I wasn't thrilled, but I can handle that kind of distance. Well, it didn't last. The coyote kept coming up to us, as close as 10 ft, then would circle around and around. I'm yelling, waving my arms, and making as much noise as possible, and the darn thing would only back off a little. It was all I could do to keep my dogs away from it and try to keep moving down the road in an attempt to get away from it. This thing followed us for over a mile. I was scared to death there was going to be a dog fight and all I could think was this coyote wasn't acting normally so it was either sick or had been getting fed by people. I don't want my dogs getting hurt in any way and my greyhound would get horribly torn up in a fight with his thin skin.

This is the first time I have seen this coyote and I'm so creeped out I don't know if I can go back there to run again tomorrow night. This is my favorite place to run and hate to lose it, around a cemetary in the burbs. My only other option is to get some sort of mace and with my luck, if I have to use it, I'll get it all over me and my dogs and the darn coyote will find it even more attractive.

This coyote was just a few feet away from my dogs and it wouldn't leave. If I had had mace tonight, I would have used it. If I had had a cell phone, I would have called 911 and asked for a rescue. I was terrified for me and my dogs.

Has anyone actually used mace on an animal in self-defense with good results?

My guess is, that is one sick coyote. Rarely will a coyote approach humans. While they may try to feed on a small dog, it's unusual for them to approach a human and multiple dogs. With the next full moon, I'll be getting my electronic call out and do a little coyote shooting. There are a lot of calves dropping right now and the drought has caused a severe shortage in mast crops. The coyotes will be hungry. Besides, it's a enjoyable evening with like-minded friends.

DFrost

Can you get something like a billy-club to carry? Something similar to what the police carry? Or even a big strong wooden walking stick? You would have more control on your aim w/that vs. mace, although I'd carry both. I'm with David, I never heard of a coyote approaching a person, let alone a person w/a bunch of dogs. I'm assuming your dogs have had the rabies vaccine, but if they haven't, I might not use that route for walking for a while.

If it's a road you can drive on, maybe you could drive it first & look for the coyote tonight before going back and walking w/your dogs, although the coyote might not be out unless he smells people/dogs. I don't know. Also, maybe you can report this to animal control for your area, if you have it. We live outside of town, so there's no animal control for us, unfortunately. But if you have it, you could let them know what's up. They may even be able to tell you if there are some illnesses going around (animal-related) in your area.

Good luck!

three words: concealed weapon license

I love coyotes and I love wolves and have donated to a few restoration projects for wolves over the years, but I don't know any coyote or wolf that would approach a human that way unless something was very wrong--rabies or hurt and extremely hungry.

Been fed by humans? I still don't think it would just come up to a stranger. My parents have them around their property and even with lots of food all around they never come close to the house, ever. The foxes will come to the back porch and wait for the cat to abandon her food but the coyotes are much more wary than they are in regards to people.

It sounds like you live in a city--call animal control and tell them. Ask them for a 24 hour emergency number and keep your cell phone with you when you run.

Ummm, no offense Mike, but if she's afraid of shooting the wrong animal/herself with a can of Mace, what makes you think she would have a better aim with a handgun? Yikes!

Unless you are very skilled w/handguns, this is a bad, bad, BAD idea. If you have time to get proper training, etc, and are 100% sure that you could hit the right target in a frenzied dog/coyote/human confrontation, don't get one. Even if you are a great shot, you might not get a shot off while the coyote was still some distance from you and your dogs. (Maybe you need proof of your skill in order to get the license to start with. If so, my bad, Mike!). ;-)

 Quote:

Has anyone actually used mace on an animal in self-defense with good results?

I carry bear spray (pepper spray). We have a LOT of bears here, both grizzly and black bear. I have had the safety off the spray on several occasions this summer, but have not used it.

However, I know a few people personally that have sprayed black bears with great success, and there was a grizzly attack in my area that was actually stopped with bear spray this summer.

For those who are not great shots with a gun (I would hate to injure a bear and not kill it), or those that just don't feel the need to carry a gun when they walk the dog, go for a bike ride or a run, pepper spray is a great option.

I have heard of it working on a cougar in my province as well. I am pretty sure it would deter a coyote!!!!!

I would reccomend getting two bottles. One to carry when you run, and one to spray off for practice. It is imparative you understand how far it sprays, how to spray it, how much is in a can, what might happen should you have to spray into the wind.....etc.

How about a really loud whistle, like scuba divers use, or something similar? It might scare the hell out of an unsuspecting coyote...OTOH, it would also scare your dogs, so that may not be the best idea.

I wouldn't take that path again until the coyote is gone.

Kori, your guess was correct...you have to go to training to get a concealed handgun license in Texas, 2nd ammendment notwithstanding.

I don't like pepper spray because of wind issues, but that's just me.

If you're 10 feet away, a bullet doesn't care about wind...300 yards, that's a little different story

I think if you asked Ed he would agree with me in this one thing...if the animal is within 10 feet of you and wants to bite you there's almost nothing you can do to stop it. Most cops are told to shoot within 15 feet if they are being threatened with someone coming towards them running with a knife or similar weapon. If a drug-crazed miscreant is that close, even getting hit with a chest shot they can still get to you.

two words.

bear ...... mace

 Quote: jennifer coulter

 Quote:

Has anyone actually used mace on an animal in self-defense with good results?

I carry bear spray (pepper spray). We have a LOT of bears here, both grizzly and black bear. I have had the safety off the spray on several occasions this summer, but have not used it.

However, I know a few people personally that have sprayed black bears with great success, and there was a grizzly attack in my area that was actually stopped with bear spray this summer.

For those who are not great shots with a gun (I would hate to injure a bear and not kill it), or those that just don't feel the need to carry a gun when they walk the dog, go for a bike ride or a run, pepper spray is a great option.

I have heard of it working on a cougar in my province as well. I am pretty sure it would deter a coyote!!!!!

I would reccomend getting two bottles. One to carry when you run, and one to spray off for practice. It is imparative you understand how far it sprays, how to spray it, how much is in a can, what might happen should you have to spray into the wind.....etc.

I laughed at the end because I thought "geez..that was exactly what I was going to say!"

Is it windy where you are? If not, I would probably go with dog spray or even a small can of bear spray. Like Jennifer said, these products do work. I understand that the animal is going to be going for broke at this point, but realize that the blindness, pain, and coughing is a huge distraction for the animal, which gives you time to make your escape. Even if it is windy, you can still position yourself so that you are spraying downwind.

It sounds like you had enough time in this scenerio to draw a weapon or mace and ready it for action. But that is rarely the case unless you are on the lookout constantly for dangerous animals. It isn't that the animal is stalking you, it is that you unwittingly stumble upon them without seeing them, and a startled animal is quickly a feroucious animal. So, I would definately second practicing with a can before you go battle the "mighty" coyote! LOL! I know, I am a poet, and I didn't even know it...