spankysparkle

... and Mr Fluff thinks I'm bonkers for wanting a big, heavy duty, wooden walking stick if we manage to get to Alberda...

Steve_P

I do too.

I've lived here for 46 years and never needed one.

el_richo

I don't blame you. The rednecks are dangerous out there.

spankysparkle

i'm terrified something will want to snack on my whippets, and will not hesitate to beat the doobreywhatsit out of a cougar, coyote, bear or redneck if they try

Steve_P

...and where are you planning on moving to that you think this is likely to happen?

spankysparkle

calgary/cochrane - it's a jungle out there
one can never be too careful! besides, i have a thing for knopkierries
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knobkierrie

Steve_P

There's no point in arguing with the irrational.

Shakes head and wanders off muttering incoherently...

mandymoochops

Coyotes come onto our acreage pretty much every night, when I go outside for a smoke they sound very eerie with their howling etc, but, you get used to them being there.

Its rare if a day goes by where we don't see one, and I was worried about the cats etc - but the cats are savvy (or as savvy as they can be and don't really venture out into the back part too much.

Unfortunately when the calf died last week its natural to haul the carcass out into the bush and the coyotes will - um - take care of it.

I thought this was pretty barbaric but speaking to the farmers, pretty much if any animal dies thats what happens to it (unless its a pet then obviously you bury it).

Coyotes are fun to shoot also (apparently its coming up to their mating season at the end of Feb so i'm sure i'll learn how) and again many local farmers will tear off into the fields on quads and you can hear gunshots ringing.

There's nothing to be afraid of - but if you want a dog that will do its utmost to protect you from these wild ravaging beasts, then a Pyrenean will do the trick (seen one in action - hearing the howls - bounding off - clearing a fence - growling and barking from both parties for a good half hour - pyrenean comes back - coyote goes away - repeat 2 hours later )

PS for a decent size coyote pelt the Hutterites will pay around $100 as they make them into coats etc.

You may be interested to know that also around central AB cougars were released to control the deer population, however that has somewhat backfired as there has been a family friends livestock all but wiped out over the last few months, because obviously you can't train cougars to hunt one thing

You cannot shoot a cougar without a special license and therefore unless the farmers catch the animals in the act of attacking - there's nothing they can do.

Here's a diagram and run down of the facts if anyone cares

http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=87

DaveLovesDee

Isn't Butch Cassidy moving somewhere more rural?

Me too.

Which kind of Cougar are we referring to now? The four-legged one, or the 50-something one?

Is that some kind of fetish code?

gloveman

So it is barbaric to haul a dead calf out into the bush but not to go out happily killing animals for fun!!

spankysparkle

if you're a redneck i guess it could be

Alan2005

me too. that's why I don't live on davie in the west end

More seriously, I haven't seen that much wildlife since I've been here (1 bear, a couple of deer, a few skunks and raccoons and loads of squirrels). I know there are coyotes in stanley park, but i've not seen one yet...

I do see bald eagles flying past my balcony on occasion though, that's kind of cool.

mandymoochops

Completely see your point, and believe you me I considered both things to be neanderthal (growing up on a big council estate, middle of Leicester!!!!) but you just don't understand different ways of life until you experience them yourself.
(ps not going to get into that discussion again - only now just on speaking terms with Bsmith )

sparkling_gal

Are they really that scary? The pan handling bears on the Yellowstone National Park video looks so cute.

Does pepper spray work on cougars too?

mandymoochops

No I don't think so following on from being educated watching The Hangover - "Tigers love pepper, they don't like cinnamon" - as a cougar is in the same family one would presume this would apply too.

Find some cinnamon spray, or if that fails a cinnamon roll should work just as well.