Running and coyotes

mustgetmuscles1

Coyotes pups are usually born spring summer time. Right about fall they go off on their own and some can be aggressive towards humans because they have not learnd how to hunt well and have not learned a whole lot about humans.

I had three surround me in the dark on a hunting trip two years ago. I was standing at the back of my truck getting my stuff together in the dark. They walked up the road and spaced themselves around me.

Didnt work out so good for two of them. : )

ndblades

I live in Colorado in a ten mile radius we get at least one runner attack every two weeks, more for dogs and people with dogs

So much for saying "find somebody's dog to run with"! Maybe a couple dogs? I have 3 big dogs - and when I go out walking and running - one will ALWAYS stay at my side - they do this on their own, I have never made them stay by me, while the other two "hunt" in the ditches and fields (I don't live in town)....last week they killed a skunk 20 feet in front of me -- shook it right out of its skin! Would be interesting to see what they'd do if we encountered a coyote! We have plenty around, they just avoid people (they will answer you if you howl at night though --- fun!)

Sorry - no suggestions for you, other than if real nervous, dont' run at dusk or dawn - that is when most creatures start moving.

wellbert

They attack people with dogs? Man, that is not like coyotes at all. Are they diseased? Food source gone?

mustgetmuscles1

They attack people with dogs? Man, that is not like coyotes at all. Are they diseased? Food source gone?

Coyotes are very aggressive towards dogs. There is a hunting method called "decoy dogs" where you bring a dog with you to attract the coyotes in and then shoot them. Look it up on Youtube. Having a dog with you is not any kind of protection IMO.

Yukongil

forget the bear mace, just go for a good ole' steel mace, this will also work your arms when bashing in their puny little coyote skulls, dual wield them to enhance coordination and conditioning further. Your welcome.

shadoewz

I bet coyotes don't like pepper spray either.

StarIsMoving

I live in an extremely rural area... on the far end of a farm nonetheless. I carry a handheld pellet gun. It won't do anymore damage then a bb gun, but if necessary, I have it (and only if necessary...so please don't hate on me). However, I try to avoid running in the dusk/dawn/dark if able, but due to work and school schedules that isn't always possible. I also have asked others to join me and no one will. Keep a light going, as that is usually what keeps them fended off and the only time I have ever seen ours get aggressive is after a new pack of pups is born. They are trying to feed their babies, they get a bit more courageous. I have never had to use the pellet pistol, but HAVE had to use the maglight in their face, raise my arms, and yell. First step is to STOP running. Good luck to ya and know you are not alone.

paulaz43

that's terrible, but thank you for the laugh this afternoon! (In response to the comment to run with someone slower than you)

jellebeandesigns

Some of the poking fun is cracking fun and I love all the serious suggestions. My 7 year old gave me his coyote whistle and I'll be snagging the hubs head lamp before my run tomorrow.

j_courter

Don't say "meep meep"...that attracts them.

oh my gosh! i'm dying here! i know this was a serious question, but that was seriously hilarious! (as was finding someone slower than you to run with)

the coyotes around here are shy. they turn tail and run if they see a person. i'd suggest mace, though.. just in case.

PBsMommy

They attack people with dogs? Man, that is not like coyotes at all. Are they diseased? Food source gone?

Sorry off topic and not trying to hijack post.....

Around where I live, they have gone ccccrrrraaazzzyyy. They are breeding with domesticated stray dogs. They are bigger and way more territorial. They also run with just more than 2-3, like a previous poster said. My dad has a pack that stay in an old abandoned barn beside his pasture and there are twenty of them easy, if not way more. One of the bigger ones came into his yard quite a few times and has tried to attack my dad's Doberman. On top of that, rabies is going wild around here. This has been going on for a few years if not more, because when I still lived with him, I wouldn't run at night or early in the morning for that exact reason.

laureltn

Even though this subject is very serious and we should all be sure we run in a safe environment, I just have to say that now every time I see the Geico commercial with the lizard, the coyote and the "meep, meep," I think of this thread and start laughing.

Sabine_Stroehm

On this morning's run we saw two coyotes, 3 bunnies, and, yes a roadrunner.

No one bothered us. :-)

TropicalFlowerz

Theye are all around our house,..(southern C.A.,..in the mountains),.....air horn,or whistle sounds about right,.or if yur walking carry a big stick!

mlb929

I grew up with coyotes as pets we raised them as babies when dad accidentally hit their mom with the car. They really are skittish animals and probably more fearful of you than them. I agree with the poster that said ferrel dogs are more a danger. I run with a gun but coyotes have never threatened me like other animals. Any noise at all generally scares wild animals away. Be safe and if you are that worried run in daylight or get a big dog to scare them off too.

NaurielR

They attack people with dogs? Man, that is not like coyotes at all. Are they diseased? Food source gone?

They're probably going after people with smaller dogs. To coyotes, small dogs are just a nice little snack. I doubt that they'd go after a large dog.

I speaking from the zoological experience, I recommend pepper spray. I interned at a zoo, and that's what the keepers wore when they were around large, dangerous animals. When we did maintenance on the coyote exhibit, they were in there with us and the pepper spray was a precaution.

Pepper spray is also small and easy to carry. It'll certainly deter the coyotes and teach them to stay away from people, but at the same time it will not cause any lasting damage. Its also relatively inexpensive, and I'm fairly certain its legal in most areas.

jellebeandesigns

The Ones around here have been known to fight big dogs too, one went after my pit a few years back, this is by all means our own fault for building on their homes. I started running with a head lamp and I saw a raccoon today, yesterday I saw a white fox (sooo gorgeous) and a pack of coyotes on its way back to its den (4 or 5 of them) they didn't see me and if they did they didn't acknowledge me (I was up on a hill looking down) it was super cool. I'm still worried about more aggressive packs and the larger alpha males but I'm getting an air horn and for now have a coyote whistle

fldiver97

I live in a smallish town and my backyard slopes into a stretch of conservancy. We have coyotes (and other wildlife) here. I have seen coyotes that live in a pack nearby come all the way up to the driveway and I have seen them right behind the fence in the backyard. I have also encountered one or two on a rare occasion on the trail while walking close to dusk. We have a middle school and a high school nearby too. Usually the coyotes leave when they see me (or other humans) but occasionally they don't seem to be afraid. So far I have not had problems, they have always taken off once I started talking. But then I always run/walk with my dosg too...she is a big gal, malamute......I have not heard about any attacks on humans around here but some small dogs that were left out in yards or tied out have been attacked. I have backyard chickens but have a 5 foot chainlink fence, very secure coop and roofed run and the chooks only range during daylight hours. So far no coyote has preyed on them (in over 3 years)

timboom1

If you can, carry 2 or 3 decent throwing rocks, slow down a bit, make noise and start throwing. Coyotes that get that close needs to be hazed into staying away from people or at some point they will be taken out after they do attack a person.

Marc713

Contact Acme & get a safe to magically drop on them : http://www.acmesafenewyork.com/

They are very much like dogs in that they can sense your fear. If you run from them, they will instinctually stalk you. The best thing to do is stand your ground or even charge them if they have plenty of room behind them to flee & not be cornered. Act like a predator, not a meal. Maybe get a light aluminium cane/pipe/stick to run with.

I would be interested to know if the people that were attacked were running away from them? I know runners get pounced by mountain lions in some areas. Sounds like a good situation to own a pit bull or a mastiff

Personally, you "could" carry a gun, they make some rat shot rounds that are like little shotgun shells. They would be fine since they don't have much range and could not penetrate a residence. It wouldn't even kill the coyote, it would just scare the crap out of them. Maybe stock up on some firecrackers?

jellebeandesigns

I have a pit bull, should I feed her to them cus that's all she's good for she's not scary or super big. I got mase although a couple weeks ago they were hiding beneath my truck :yikes: I've seen one sense and it didn't bother me a touch