Running and coyotes

jellebeandesigns
jellebeandesigns Posts: 347 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I posted a couple days ago about running in the dark and some of our dangers here. Well this morning one of those dangers became all to real :( I was running about a mile and half from my house near my best friends house (in a very suburban neighbor hood) and there is an open field on one side of the field well in the under brush I saw two small dark dog like figures running one about six feet ahead of me and one parallel to me. I started making every big deep noise I could think of and coughing and turned and headed home (thank god a car drove between us or I doubt they would have been very detoured) cototes in our area are known for attacking runners. What do y'all do to stave off coyotes?
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Replies

  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    That's surprising. Usually they are timid little *kitten* and attacks are... rare.
    Coyotes don't like noise. How about an air horn?
  • elprincipito
    elprincipito Posts: 1,200 Member
    oh snap
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    I shoot at them
  • OneFitDude16
    OneFitDude16 Posts: 169
    if they attack they arent that big just pound the crap out of them
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    Just run with someone that is slower than you. Then you don't have to outrun the coyotes. :laugh:
  • spade117
    spade117 Posts: 2,466 Member
    Don't say "meep meep"...that attracts them.
  • elprincipito
    elprincipito Posts: 1,200 Member
    I shoot at them
    why shoot at them in their territory lol seems sleazy.
  • bpwparents
    bpwparents Posts: 359 Member
    carry a whistle
  • mrsains
    mrsains Posts: 104 Member
    Good idea to be wary of them! Not sure where you're from, but here in Canada there was a story out east awhile back where a woman was attacked (and died from the injuries) by coyotes on a hike. Mind you, it is rare for them to attack a human, but if they are desperately hungry or ill, they may. Best be on your guard!
  • tnmyers23
    tnmyers23 Posts: 108 Member
    Time to invest in a handgun! If they are that gutsy what about the kids in the yards. Or a less expensive way is pepper spray and I saw one that is made to be held while you run!
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    I am in CANADA, and i love to run in the dark,,, i see foxes and wolves and raccoons,,,and so many bunnies.....
  • bigaris911
    bigaris911 Posts: 18
    if they attack they arent that big just pound the crap out of them

    yea and then stand in the middle of the street!!! gimme a break this is the worst advise Ive ever heard hope it was a joke!! I would pick another spot to run or run closer to civilization. Forget the size.... there bites can bring diseases and I would not chance that... FYI: I am 6"6 390lbs and pretty f'n strong. Dont mess with wild animals!
  • FrenchMob
    FrenchMob Posts: 1,167 Member
    Wolfs are one thing, coyotes, I wouldn't be to worried. They're usually under 50 lbs and rarely in packs greater than 2-3. A few kicks and punches in the snout and they'd disperse pretty quick.
  • melduf
    melduf Posts: 468 Member
    Just run with someone that is slower than you. Then you don't have to outrun the coyotes. :laugh:

    That's a good idea... until you're the one being picked because you're slow x__x
  • FitzyFitzpatrick
    FitzyFitzpatrick Posts: 188 Member
    I fear the same thing...and javalinas too! (Nasty pig-like things with tusks!) I walk at 4:30am and am constantly jingling my waterbottle carabiner to ward them off. I plan to get something more clattery to make noise when I walk! I really don't think they'll attack, but it's more proactive to scare them off first.
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    Wolfs are one thing, coyotes, I wouldn't be to worried. They're usually under 50 lbs and rarely in packs greater than 2-3. A few kicks and punches in the snout and they'd disperse pretty quick.

    You can't be serious

    I mean yeah bro I punch coyotes in the nose all the time, works great. Sometimes I poke them in the eye with my finger
  • Stac2004
    Stac2004 Posts: 88 Member
    We have coyotes in Illinois. They rarely ever go after people. I've encountered some in Illinois and running out in Phoenix. I was freaked out at first, but read up on a website if they ever do approach you (again very rare) stand your ground, face them, wave your arms and make loud noises.

    http://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/files/recommendations_for_dealing_with_coyotes.pdf
  • jellebeandesigns
    jellebeandesigns Posts: 347 Member
    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
  • BleauBlayzes
    BleauBlayzes Posts: 12
    SHOOTING is out of the question people, it is a suburban area. Pepper spray would be a good choice, but get the kind that has the control cap (finger can only go in one way so you don't spray yourself). A knife may also be a possibility if you can legally carry one in case they get close or past the pepper spray. We have coyotes out here too, but we live in the country. I do carry a weapon when I am out as a precaution, but I still worry about shooting because I never know if someone is walking in the woods or one of the homeowners that live close may be outside. You may also want to report it to the authorities, sometimes (here anyway) they will trap and relocate or eliminate the problem.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I run with flashing lights on (little clip on red and white bike taillights).
    It's kept them away for me.
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    Wolfs are one thing, coyotes, I wouldn't be to worried. They're usually under 50 lbs and rarely in packs greater than 2-3. A few kicks and punches in the snout and they'd disperse pretty quick.

    how many coyotes have you fought?
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I shoot at them
    Wow, that's lame.
  • kr1stadee
    kr1stadee Posts: 1,774 Member
    I'm in Eastern Canada. It was in the highlands where the young girl was attacked and killed by a coyote. Since then, there have been multiple encounters with coyotes all over Cape Breton.

    Just last week a girl was attacked. It didn't bite her, but left a nasty scratch across her face. There's a cull out on them at the moment. There are hunters paid by how many dead coyotes they turn in.

    They are braver and bigger than normal. Years ago, we NEVER had any issues with coyotes. Now, I will not walk in wooded areas (especially around my home, there's been quite a few spotted), after dusk or early in the morning. Not worth the risk.

    Around here they are accustomed to humans and are no longer afraid.
  • MtnKat
    MtnKat Posts: 714
    We have lots of coyotes here in Wv too (I live in the mountains). I've been surrounded by them on camping trips but have only encountered them occasionally on my runs. They are usually afraid of me. I did see a dead one skinned on the side of the road once....that was really strange.

    I have also come across black bears and mountain cats. Yes....those are the scary ones! (In fact my neighbor had a black bear on her porch the other day). The cat was the worst of all.....it was crouched on top of a ridge just above me...I heard it growling and happened to look up as I ran by. It's teeth were bared and ears were back.

    The bear was on the side of the road....I saw it long before I got up to it so I just turned around and ran the other way lol.

    That is the reason why I only run in the daylight......
  • laureltn
    laureltn Posts: 87 Member
    After I stopped completely freaking out at the prospect of being stalked by coyotes (I mean really, nobody needs a PB that badly) it occurs to me that what people carry around to ward off dogs might work. Googled it and stuff came up. Not sure I would have the courage to actually put myself back out there, even with stuff like that, though.

    We have coyotes around Middle Tennessee but I've never seen one on the trails where we run (very populated most times of the day). My husband saw a cougar once this summer and totally flipped (city said they don't exist but people are getting photos of them). Biggest thing I've had to worry about on the trails was a Lab puppy got between a doe and her fawn and the owners were too dumb to realize the dog was about to get in serious trouble.
  • maddymama
    maddymama Posts: 1,183 Member
    I live in Texas, where we have bobcats, deer, wild hogs, and coyotes in our area. I run with dog mace. If I run early in the morning, I also add a blinking light, too, and I try to jingle (keys or whatever) to scare off animals.
    I don't think anything I bring will be foolproof, but it's better than carrying nothing.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    I carry pepper spray, but as bear have been getting closer to the more populated areas I have thought about a fire arm.
  • fefe0201
    fefe0201 Posts: 49 Member
    Don't say "meep meep"...that attracts them.

    pmsl
  • jellebeandesigns
    jellebeandesigns Posts: 347 Member
    Ya coyotes aren't scarce as in driving down the local hwy you will see packs, we have taken the kids on nature walks that teach about coyote safety. I ran into a bob cat the other day that was just as scared of me as I was of it and that was fine. Bears, mountain lions are all a concern but it's the coyotes that scare me
  • jellebeandesigns
    jellebeandesigns Posts: 347 Member
    I want to make it clear I don't think coyotes are out to get me, but they are here and I was stalked by two and I want to be safe (with dog mase or running during the day) they belong here more than I do

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