It works like magic. An advancing animal, specifically an untrained one, is quickly turned 180 degrees with a decent repellant. The best thing about them is that they are effective and have no lasting effects.

Well, here's the update. I called animal control and they say they don't do wildlife and told me to call the DNR. I called the DNR and they told me to call their conservation officer and the urban wildlife guy so someone would go and check it out. They said if they can find it, it will be shot. Of course, neither people are answering their phones right now, so I will have to try back later.

As for me, even if I was inclined to shoot a gun, which I'm not, it's illegal to do so here and I would miss anyway as I was holding three dogs doing their best cujo immitation. Anything like a big stick wouldn't work either, as I don't have an extra hand to carry one while running and I don't want to ever get that close anyway. I will ask the DNR type people when I get hold of them what type of mace I can legally carry and how to use it properly.

This is the type of close encounter I can do without. I'm still creeped out by it. This happened in the middle of a big city for crying out loud.

I'd keep following up too. I'm with David that this sounds like a coyote with a problem (like rabies), and I'd want to be SURE they got him.

Actually, I disagree that it must be sick. As far as "normal" coyote behavior, it all depends on where you live. I live in a suburb w/several forest preserves, and lots of new communities which are taking over their natural habitat. It is, unfortunately, "normal" for them to stalk people w/dogs, esp. small dogs, but many large dogs are falling prey to them lately as well. They simply have nowhere else to go, and are having to get very bold in order to survive. I have seen them in my driveway many times, and just recently had an entire family of them trying to cross a 4lane highway. It's really quite sad. For this reason, I never, never, never walk my little one alone, except right in the middle of the day. I always have either Caleb w/us or Mia, who my money would be on in a fight against one of these poor, starving creatures. In the boonies, a coyote doing this would probably have an issue or two; in the city or suburbs, sadly, it's what they have to do to survive.

Jenni, while I agree with you that in your area and other urban areas that they are becoming more bold, it is odd that the coyote kept advancing towards a human who was yelling and waving their arms at it. But, it may very well just be that it was "acclimated" and unafraid.

Fortunately where I live, they are still pretty solitary and elusive creatures...We hunt them here and even calling them in is difficult sometimes.

I recently copyedited a book about livestock guardian dogs.

In the book, which of course had a LOT of coyote stuff, and it seemed to me too, after reading so much about their habits, that continuing to advance on a human who was making a display would be unusual.

That's exactly the problem. Lucky you, Carol, to live somewhere where they can survive according to what their natural instincts tell them. I have a picture of a horribly thin, mangy coyote lounging outside my Mom's townhouse. They are not afraid of humans anymore, sadly. They are not hunted anywhere near here, so they really have no fear, and hang around hoping to get some garbage, cats, and smaller dogs. This is not how they were meant to be, for sure, but it's a result of a changing environment, not the result of an illness like rabies. I have yelled and tried to get them off my driveway, hoping to discourage them from coming back, and they just look at me like I'm mentally ill, and mosey on their merry way. Gone are the days when they skulk around and run from humans.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I recently copyedited a book about livestock guardian dogs.

In the book, which of course had a LOT of coyote stuff, and it seemed to me too, after reading so much about their habits, that continuing to advance on a human who was making a display would be unusual.

The whole not afraid of human thing concerns me, however, I have never lived in an Urban area where coyotes are high in population. So I really am guessing.

We do have coyote crosses here, which are of course feral, due to all the dogs that are allowed to run loose and breed as they see fit, and those are pretty much the type that will advance on you.
They are honery as all get out, and are more likely to steal your cats and get into your garbage, however my barking dogs usually keep them away.

Still, I would not take any chances and make sure the DNR at least tries to find this mangy ole thing.

I didn't know they had changed into not running from humans.

That's scary.

As many had mentioned, it was either sick or it was getting fed by humans. My guess is that it was getting fed by humans. My sister lives out in the back country, within the foothills. I walk my dog up there several times during the week, before sunset. We encounter foxes and coyotes all the time. Foxes seem to be shy (they're so beautiful, too!), but coyotes are the ones that seem to be very curious. Over here, foxes and coyotes all either run away, or stand there for a few seconds, staring at us with curiosity just before they take off. If I see that its staring at us for too long, I'll blow on whistle and that usually scares them off. If that doesn't do the trick, then I'll just shoot a round up in the air (and if that doesn't work, then I gotta do what I gotta do).

There was one occasion when we bumped into a particular coyote and as usual, ran away. I thought it was long gone, but it was stalking us. It started to yelp/howl (never knew they were that freaking loud!). It was probably 10-15 feet away from us, hiding in the bush. We finally reached an area where the bush cleared up, and my sister's pitbull all of a sudden started chasing it. Seconds after, the dog came back, I checked him out for scratches/bite marks, he was fine. We went home.

Last year, during the winter season, my brother in law and I went to grab some wood at a location that is about two miles away from where he lives. This was probably about 12am, and we drove up there on his Kawasaki 4x4 Mule. Once we got there, we started piling up the wood on the back. Not far from our location, we heard a pack of coyotes howling. My stupid brother in law decided to howl back, and within a couple of seconds, we started hearing sounds. We knew what it was, so we jumped up on the 4x4, and got the hell out of there. As we were driving away, we saw about three or four pairs of glowing eyes..it was a pack of coyotes! It was a fascinating sight.

Oops, going off topic here, hehe. Get yourself a very loud whistle, or carry around one of those air horns that come in small aerosol spray cans, or better yet. a personal alarm (an compact electronic device that at a press of a button, the alarm goes off with high-pitched, ear piercing sounds, they're cheap, only $10 on eBay.) Those personal alarms are REALLY, REALLY loud, and will even hurt your own ears. If it'll hurt your ears, imagine what the coyote has to put up with if he doesn't go away. Unfortunately, it might traumatize your dog (each time it sees a coyote, it will know that an unpleasant sound will soon follow). When I used to walk my dog in my neighborhood (always has 2 or 3 strays running around) I used to carry a stun gun and pepper spray.

Pepper spray sometimes works, and sometimes it doesn't. Animals get freaked out by the stun gun, because of the electrical sound. Check out the stun batons, look them up on the web and check if they're legal in your area. Having one of those is like having a magical wand. Sounds like a stun baton is your best bet for your situation.