I used to do the same thing with field mice in our horse barn...

Until I realized maybe it was better to just let the little bassids die, that were contaminating our grain.

 Quote: Alyssa Myracle

I used to do the same thing with field mice in our horse barn...

Until I realized maybe it was better to just let the little bassids die, that were contaminating our grain.

I used to put our barn cat in the grain tubs when I found them...

Coyotes balance out things in nature, they have a purpose. They are a very smart animal that can adapt to new situations easily. People have tried to kill these animals for centuries and there ability to adapt just keeps their numbers growing. There is no point in killing them unless they are a danger or unless you are one of those people who enjoy killing animals for no reason. If you ever saw a coyote pup they play just like a dog pup. If you ever took the time to talk to one that was in hearing range, they would kock their head just like a dog trying to figure out what you are saying. Of course I am not saying one should ever think these are dogs, they are wild. There are very few coyote attacks on humans, even in packs. Most attacks are on small children when the coyotes food supply is short. They perfer to eat wild meat, but will eat cats and smalls dogs when the food runs out, especially at the end of summer. If you like living in nature, then learn to live with the animals who live there. If you don't like living with wild animals, live in the city. To learn more about them, google them. They are quite amazing.
P.S. I don't care if you let me have it.

Few coyote attacks on humans, but too many coyote attacks on domesticated dogs, to count.

BTW, I see coyotes in suburban and city areas.
If wolves hadn't been killed off, the coyote population would be nowhere near what it is.

Coyotes are not supposed to be an apex predator.

I recently had 2 coyotes try and corner me while walking in the woods with Qira and Caleb. They came from opposite directions, and the first tried to get us to go the opposite way, right toward where the other one was sitting.

Things are pretty bad when they're going after 2 full grown GSDs w/a person, in pairs. It sucked. I was right behind my Dad's house, and neither of my dogs had leashes on...they never do right behind the house. Caleb is so protective of Qira that I was afraid he was going to notice the first coyote gettting too close (it was actively following us) and tear off to go kill it, only to find himself in a fight with a whole bunch of them. Lately, around here, they are luring male dogs by sending a lone female in heat...it's creepy.

I managed to get my 2 to fuss and run straight back to the house. That was the last time I walked back there w/them. I grew up in those woods, played by myself back there all the time...with my Cocker Spaniel. No way could I do that now. They are all over the place, and it's all b/c we have built townhouses everywhere they used to live.

 Quote: Jenni Williams

Lately, around here, they are luring male dogs by sending a lone female in heat...it's creepy.

I managed to get my 2 to fuss and run straight back to the house. That was the last time I walked back there w/them. I grew up in those woods, played by myself back there all the time...with my Cocker Spaniel. No way could I do that now. They are all over the place, and it's all b/c we have built townhouses everywhere they used to live.

Sure you haven't been reading Jack London?


A coyote will not attack a grown person, you really have nothing to worry about.

 Quote: Alyssa Myracle

Few coyote attacks on humans, but too many coyote attacks on domesticated dogs, to count.

BTW, I see coyotes in suburban and city areas.
If wolves hadn't been killed off, the coyote population would be nowhere near what it is.

Coyotes are not supposed to be an apex predator.

A coyote may not attack a grown person, but would go after a dog, as Alyssa said. Or go after a calf, or a lamb as David said. Anything that could be a meal.

And the coyote wasn't supposed to be an apex predator. Wolves were.

I've seen a few coyotes near where I live, I wouldn't feel comfortable out for a walk and running into one with my dogs! Especially if the coyote didn't run off when it saw us coming.

 Quote: John Vanek

A coyote will not attack a grown person, you really have nothing to worry about.

I wouldn't be so sure John . I was in a similar situation as Jenni except it ended in a tussle between my dog and 3 coyotes. The first 2 succeeded in separating us and a 3rd came out threatening me; six feet in front of me snarling, I don't know if he would have attacked me because my dog returned after being chased off by the other two and jumped on the third.

The environmental police got involved because it occurred in a wooded area which is surrounded by homes, strip malls etc. They gave me a ton of info; one of the gentlemen was a coyote expert. I had been training my dog so I had hot dog pieces on me.

He hypothesized that it was a litter which had been thrown out to make way for new pups which are born in March; it was Jan. the mating season. There had been a ton of snow and everything was frozen solid; hunting was difficult for an experienced animal and next to impossible for the inexperienced; thus they were beginning to starve. The following behavior Jenni mentioned is typical as is the coyotes coming from different directions. They also are expert manipulators in getting their prey alone. I thought my dog was the prey; the coyote guy said he doubted it; he felt strongly the hot dogs I carried were the incentive. Would coyote #3 have attacked me if my dog had not returned? I don't know but I would definitely not rule it out!

I live in the city, Steel city to be precise. It's kind of an industrial city. And like I said, we do have sightings of them around here down by the beach mostly.
They have taken a few little dogs and some cats have gone missing.
There was one instance where a man stopped to take a picture of a hawk and a coyote snuck out from the bushes and grabbed his little dog. Luckily it was on a leash and the guy just tugged his dog out of the coyotes mouth.
The coyotes around here (imo) are unusually large. When i see pics of them on the news they seem huge to other ones i've seen around here.
My only other experience with them was with my other dog. We were walking in the valley here and I could see what i thought was a dog rolling around in a field. It caught sight of me & my dog and stood up and gave a few yips & howls and started to trot towards us. I moved on and the coyote actually followed us across a 4 lane street and right up to our backyard. The only thing I could figure was that it was a female in heat and she was "flirting" with Taz..lol.

Im not surprised by this, with all the expansion going on in cities and us tearing up the natural greenspaces where they live in order to build bigger and better buildings & highways where else would they have to go? Of course we have to expect them to adjust to what was happening and move closer to residential areas to forage for food. It's a circle, we destroy where they live, which in turn decreases their natural food sources (mice, rats, small animals like that)which in turn forces them into our neighborhoods to find what we originally took away.

Edit: i just read Jenni. w's post above about them using lone female dogs in heat to lure dogs and attack them. Maybe thats what that female was doing.
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/520597

seems we're trying to relocate the coyote's, but it's been poxed!

http://www.parrysound.com/press/1236186366/

I think Coyotees are beautiful creations too. But I also realize God gave them a fierce hunting instinct and a storng desire to live, so I keep my distance from them. I enjoy them at a distance. Howvever, we have Coyotees in Lake Elsinore, they are not the least bit afraid of humans and many dogs have been attacked and killed, especially small ones. One coyotee can rip a medium sized dogs up pretty good. I have found one in my yard before in the early morning hours, and as a result do not let my dogs out for long in the early morning hours or early evening, or late night un supervised. I understand they are hungry, we have taken up their habitat, however, I prefer they eat rabbits, squirells and anything else but my pets. I have 3 friends whose dogs were attacked. 2 of the dogs lived, the other one unfortunaely there was not much left of it, the coyotes ate it.
Like you I love God's creation, and all His creatures, but I am not a person who thinks wild animals are safe. Kinda like that sad incident with the chimp we just heard about on the news, tragic! Wild animals need to be treated as a wild animals, how many stories have we heard of a pet....you fill in the blank turning on its trainer or owner.
Has anyone found a good method of scaring them off or keeping them off your property? Our coyotees can easily scale a 6-8 foot chain link fence.