Coyotes

[Summer]

I don't know much about these critters. I have never seen any close up except I have heard them howling together in a pack many times very near our house. Today I saw one about 30 yds. away, alone and eating something from the ground. Would this be grass, acorns or what? I didn't let my dog out as I don't know how dangerous that would be. Just how dangerous are coyotes and why would he have been so close to the house, alone, and eating what? Just curious.

[MadScot]

A coyote can be dangerous around small children. They are not timid like a wolf. One on one a healthy coyote is a match for most dogs. We have packs of them here they kill the sheep and cattle. In many areas they have reintroduced wolves to try and reduce the coyote population.

[cattledoggiemoon]

Coyotes are smart, cunning animals and are very wild. Dogs are vulnerable around any coyotes.

They can spot and target an old, ill, young, smart or naive dog. Usually the technique they use to lure dogs is to run towards them then away - back and forth. Dogs perceive this as playfulness but actually they are moving the dog towards their pack. They run close then away each time moving further and further away from where they started with the dog(s) . The intent is to keep the dog interested and move him further away from his home territory towards the pack. Then when the dog discovers he is away, he is usually surround by the pack at that point and can not run back.

Coyotes are also very bold. I have seen them walk all around my home and property on my deck when I lived at 4000 elevation. They are not afraid of humans.

They are beautiful as long as you keep your self and your dog aware and away. They are carnivores and will migrate down to lower elevations. out of their range, as more food becomes scarce in higher elevations. Mostly nocturnal and shy but in YNP they are out during the day due to tourist and easy food access.I have seen them den and catch mice, squirrel, etc as well as dogs. I have seen them in pairs walking along two of my dogs who had run a ways from the driveway. When my dogs came back the coyotes were on each side of the dog. I used an air gun to startle them away and still they did not turn and leave my dog until I ran towards my dog and he ran up to me.


nhptv.org/natureworks/coyote.htm This is a pretty accurate link that describes their behavior.

[Ironhorse]

I've seen some interesting run-ins between the coyotes and deer at my mom's place. And the coyote came out the loser (you don't wanna get a mama deer mad at you!). When I first moved up here, I know they were even at times around the condos. I was told to not let my cat out and not to keep cat food out on the patio (hadn't done that, was just warned not to start). Seems a coyote had recently chased a cat into the front door of a condo and killed it. Haven't seen any in quite awhile around the condos (but then I'm not out at night, LOL), but see them frequently stalking/chasing the deer that frequent my parents 11 acres at 3200 feet. And we think they treed my parents cat at one point because he didn't come home one night, then when he finally showed up the next day, he was scared to death and didn't even try to go out for 3 days. I've seen a mama deer and two of her friends chase down and half beat to death two coyotes that tried to get her newborn (mama was running so hard and fast her belly was hitting the ground!). The coyotes never messed with my parents rottweiler when he was alive, maybe because he was so much bigger than they were, and if he ran them off, they left! But most dogs they'll try to take on.

[David_V]

I don't know much about these critters. I have never seen any close up except I have heard them howling together in a pack many times very near our house......
They're fascinating creatures. Observe them and their antics. Don't fear them.

I used to have a coyote den on my place. They did not attack any of the neighbor dogs. One year they just disappeared and I noticed a huge increase in the number of rodents around here.

It was nice in the summer when they'd sing me to sleep.

[beautiful_mess38]

I live in YLP and we have lots of coyotes. I see them in the morning, afternoon and night. maybe its because we also have alot of deer, wild turkeys and mountain lions here too.

Alot of times there in my backyard howling, I get the million candle flashlight out shine it out the back window and they scatter.

As said above they will lure dogs to there pack. When my friend was watching my lab while we were in Mexico she has 2 large dogs of her own, she told me one would come down play run back come back down. My dog wouldnt budge but her young border collie would. She had to get her beebee gun out.

When my lab 110lb was missing for 4 days he came back beat up with a swollen leg. I assumed it was coyotes. he had deep tooth mark gaches on his neck and one below his eye. He had scratches on the swollen leg. About a week after he was home he got a skin infection on his cheek. He's all better now, hopefully he wont wonder off again.

I've never seen coyotes in my yard when the kids are out, However one morning there was a mountain lion in the tree in the back. Luckly my dog was inside and barking at the tree. Thats when the kids noticed the mountain lion.

When we take the horses out on the trail we will run into coyotes. We shout and they run off. If we go with Kathy she always carries rocks in her saddlebag. lol

I've never heard of coyotes attacking humans here and hoping I never will.

There are certain times of the year where you will see alot of them ran over on Hwy41 have you ever noticed that. Wonder why?

[Summer]

Yikes, and I thought my dog was safe as he weighs over 100 lbs. and runs very fast BUT I could see him going off packing with them. He and the dogs next door are always visiting and running around together. Do you think he would be smart enough to know the coyote is not just another dog? Also, about the mt. lion in the tree. At night sometimes I hear thuds on the roof - we have trees close to jumping distance to the roof - wrote it off to squirrels or other nocturnal animals. Never thought of a mt. lion! Sheesh, its hard living up here in the mountains!

[David_V]

There are certain times of the year where you will see alot of them ran over on Hwy41 have you ever noticed that. Wonder why?
Road kill. It's often fresh and doesn't run away.

[David_V]

....At night sometimes I hear thuds on the roof - we have trees close to jumping distance to the roof - wrote it off to squirrels or other nocturnal animals. Never thought of a mt. lion!
Most likely a smaller animal.

Sheesh, its hard living up here in the mountains!
Beats the city.

[MtnBreeze]

I've lived in the mountians for 35 plus years and have almost always had dogs and have never had any problems with coyotes...I see them and hear them...I almost hit one last nite less than 1/4 mile from my home when he crossed the road in front of me....I have seen and heard mountain lions also...I love living up here and I choose to LEARN about the wildlife rather than fear it so it is good you ask Summer rather than assume. ....Coyotes are prevalent wherever there are not bigger predators to keep the population down....they even roam near southern California congested areas....they prey mostly on rodents and small mammals...they will get cats if they can (but most of my cats have lived to ripe old ages even tho I live close to open forest area)...and I suppose they could attack a dog...however....they are not usually pack animals except at certain times of the year....you will mostly see lone coyotes or pairs when they mate..they are not like wolves in their mating or pack habits. Look them up on internet and learn about them. It is so much more enjoyable to find interest in our surroundings rather than to be afraid of it....There are always exceptions to anything but you are far more likely to be hurt by driving your car than by anything that lives in this area....good luck on your research :)

[Summer]

I just can't get over how "innocent" that coyote looked. He was just grazing the ground like the deer do - I loved watching him - he was really aware - also like the deer - to sounds, movement and sights around him. My husband brought up a good point. There is a LOT of development going on Hwy. 49 recently. It may be driving the wildlife into areas they haven't been seen before. I didn't mean to give the impression I do not like living up here in the mountains, I would NEVER move back to the city, just that I am inexperienced and trying to find out how to cope with a different environment. There is a lot to learn.

[Yosemite_Wolf]

The coyote is part of the natural habitat. So is the Mountain Lion. Man has intervened in too many ways... moving into their areas etc etc. Then man makes laws that you can't shoot a mtn lion..... why can't we just let them be. If we make laws that say we can't shoot mtn lions, then their population gets too big and they start eating dogs, cats and lil children. We kill off all the 'Yotes and we have an increase in small rodents that are plagued with rabies. Man has to learn to live with these creatures. And people wonder why Hawai'i is so adament about what creatures can be imported into their islands. Snakes are not a natural creature on the island, but thanks to airplanes, the brown snake is hijacking aboard in wheel wells and now making a place in the island. (this is a case where the snakes need to be killed or caught and removed.)
On Catalina island, deer and boar were brought into the island, and now they think that the creatures are ruining the island... so they are being shot right and left. Learn to live with these natural creatures.... I am not a big fan of Mountain Lions and bobcats, but we can learn to keep our furry friends safe by giving them a secure pen, bringing cats in at night and for gosh sakes.. don't tether up a small dog such as a poodle, etc outside!!!! Coyotes can be gorgeous in the wild and nothing makes me sadder than to see dead ones on the side of the road. But alas, dont get me wrong, if it was legal to have bobcat pelts... I would cover all my furniture in their pelts.... cos I have lost too many cats to the buggers.

[cattledoggiemoon]

Interesting mix of experiences.

I still believe it is best to learn about coyotes and be cautious. They are wild, have their ranges, beautiful behaviors but they are cunning and smart. I try to accept the environment and all its beautiful, indigenous creatures without any romantic illusions.

dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/coyote.html

[Kahlua Kid]

We have a pack of Coyotes that run every night along fence at the back of our pasture East to west.

I've never seen them veer close to our home. I have seen them in our upper pasture running south to north though also.

Our neighbor to the east has 40 acres, the one behind him 40 acres, and the ones behind them over 100 acres. So there is a lot of land that no person is hanging out on day in day out so a lot of wildlife lives there. We have seen Mountain Lions, Bobcats, Coyotes, Wild Turkey, Deer, Hawks, and more heading down from that property and slipping on to ours.

I have had MANY cats disappear. If out one night (we lock them in a kitty condo, but if they don't come in for dinner, they become dinner) they are goners. I used to think Coyotes. But, had the Bobcat once in our garage with a kitten in his mouth (he dropped it when I yelled at him)... We only see the Bobcats, Coyotes, etc... usually at dusk.

When we got our puppies, we got one of the kennel fencing kits. Kept them locked in it every night. As the two have gotten bigger, we leave the kennel open at night. They mostly just go in there and sleep at night. I do worry a bit that they will tangle with a Bobcat or Coyote or worse Mountain Lion. But, I got the dogs as "watch dogs" and that is their job. They can't guard the property/house if they are locked in the kennel every night.

Our friends that own 80 acres in front of the Rodeo Grounds found their medium-large dog had tangled with Coyotes once. THey had to rush him to Fresno - his stomache had been ripped open. $700 later, the dog is alive and well.

So of course, we know, it can happen.

[Ironhorse]

I just can't get over how "innocent" that coyote looked. He was just grazing the ground like the deer do - I loved watching him - he was really aware - also like the deer - to sounds, movement and sights around him. My husband brought up a good point. There is a LOT of development going on Hwy. 49 recently. It may be driving the wildlife into areas they haven't been seen before. I didn't mean to give the impression I do not like living up here in the mountains, I would NEVER move back to the city, just that I am inexperienced and trying to find out how to cope with a different environment. There is a lot to learn.

You're right, the development forces the animals into areas they normally wouldn't go. It invades their feeding trails and homes. I struggled when I moved up here not to scream at the deer I saw being stalked by the coyote, but I have learned to let nature take its course as to the food chain. But I do get a lot of enjoyment in watching the deer win, as happens when the coyotes get the mamas and their friends mad at them, those chases are a sight to behold! :-D I treasure the ability to watch these animals in our rural setting, and that they can, for the most part, peacefully co-exist with us. To have a deer or other animal stop within arm's reach of my car when I'm going to my parents, and look at me, just staring, without running is wonderful. I know it is also dangerous for the animal, as people that don't live up here might not be content to just sit and watch the animal and appreciate its beauty, but they might try to hurt it. My dad and his neighbors on the one hand curse the overpopulation of deer, but on the other hand, let them see someone try to hurt one of "their deer" or other animals and they are all over the situation.

[David_V]

....But alas, dont get me wrong, if it was legal to have bobcat pelts... I would cover all my furniture in their pelts.... cos I have lost too many cats to the buggers.
I have a bobcat that regularly crosses my property. It's calmly walked past me about 50 yards away. My llamas don't even let out an alarm call when they see it anymore. I have one house cat and about 5 feral cats in the area. It's been that way for years. I'm lucky from what I hear.

The problem is the feral cats. They've been dumped here. Most of them starve to death, get run over, or freeze to death in the winter.