Not spiders - coyotes!!
 

I was astounded last week when my sister, who lives in Vancouver, out near UBC, sent me some photographs taken on the next street and when I asked about the little wooded area, she said that you have to be careful because there are coyotes living there. I thought at first that she was joking - I mean this is in the middle of Vancouver! But no. She says she was walking her little dog and a man in his garden said to be careful of the coyotes because he had seen them in that little wooded area. She says you can see them walking down the middle of the street, especially at night. She was walking her dog on the golf course when a coyote came out from behind a tree. Her dog thought it was another dog to play with and she had to scream at it. The golf course attendant came by on a little cart and shooed the coyote away. He said her dog was a bit too big for the coyote to take, but that it could easily kill that size of dog!

Apparently there are also coyotes living in Calgary. Thank goodness I have never heard of coyotes in Regina. They live out in the country but I've never heard of one being seen in the city.

Re: Not spiders - coyotes!!
 

I can't pretend to be an expert on coyotes - they are a bit thin on the ground in the UK, but we do have a lot of urban Foxes these days, and I think that they are kind-of related.

They are opportunists, and like raiding garbage cans etc for tasty freebies.
I don't know how vicious coyotes are, but foxes are extremely unlikely to attack dogs or humans - still, always a first time, I suppose.

Once upon a time, you would not see one within miles of built-up areas, but now there are probably more living within the confines of most towns than there are living in the country.

Re: Not spiders - coyotes!!
 

Yes 'tis true - we are surrounded by them here - I live just ten minutes from City limits. They don't bother people, they usually run away. I see a regular guy traversing my property.

At night they can be a bit spooky, the cries they make, especially when they have a 'kill'.

Coyotes are part of the territory, I've had Moose crossing my land before now (one was bigger than a horse), and even bears and cougars (mountain lions) have been seen here, although not a common ocurrence! (Thankfully).

Re: Not spiders - coyotes!!
 

I can watch them from my front window and have to leave the area I walk my wolf cross before it gets dark, otherwise they circle us. Scary, but I make lots of noise and keep walking to my van!

Re: Not spiders - coyotes!!
 

They are probably trying to 'recruit' your dog. They are known to do this with domestic dogs. Maybe they can sense the 'wolf' in your dog......

Re: Not spiders - coyotes!!
 

I think they can sense the wolf. They and my dog keep their distance, but they have these amazing staring sessions where they just look at each other without movement. Then my dog suddenly gets the wind up, presses against me and whimpers - we keep walking and he will literally stay pressed up against me until we get to the van. At home, he sits in the yard stone still and sniffs when they are howling. It's very spooky! My dog only howls at sirens, (ambulance, fire etc.) but he does the whole head back and nose up howling stance. Fantastic to watch.

Re: Not spiders - coyotes!!
 

Funny we had this conversation - just yesterday, the cops shot and killed a coyote in one of our parks after TWO seperate incidences of coyotes attacking toddlers :scared:

Re: Not spiders - coyotes!!
 

Hi

Whereabouts in Canada did this happen.
Or is it much the same everywhere?
Cheers Jo

Re: Not spiders - coyotes!!
 

Don't worry too much. my coyote was bigger than yours stories. I lived in Canada for more than 20 years and did not see any wolves, coyotes, bears or moose.

Mind you my sister now does every year, but she goes 14 hours north on hunting trips.

This is Ontario I'm talking about. I suppose the appearances may be occurring more as housing encroaches on the normal habitats of coyotes.

Re: Not spiders - coyotes!!
 

Actually both of these attacks were not 'stories', but on the local TV news (Alberta). Both took place in inner city parks on the same day. They showed the killing, and removal of one Coyote (not very nice).

I have a regular coyote 'pathway' across my land, and there is a 'cocky' one that travels it (right under a window) every morning and night, he scares me. He has growled at me in the dark on more than one occasion....lol I jumped in the car a bit quick :scared:

We have also had Cougars (mountain lions) right in the city, a guy saw one hiding under his deck as he mowed the lawn last summer. Authorities drugged it and took it back to the mountains.

I have seen two HUGE Moose walk across my acreage, after running across the road in front of me. One of the cheeky beggars took the top of one my trees with him. There has been a Bear sighting in my current neighbourhood, also. True, these are not common, but they DO happen. The bears wander along the valley in search of food when pickings are slim in the mountains.

A couple of years back, a woman was killed by a cougar, trying to protect her six year old son - they were on horseback in the foothills, and nearer the Cougars territory, but not that far outside the city.

I live in a rural area, but only five minutes from city limits, not quite the 'boonies'!

Re: Not spiders - coyotes!!
 

I think I'll stick with South West Ontario or NS then. Sounds much safer. I don't mind moose, but bears and coyotes and mountain lions - oooh my!

I like the wildlife, but I don't quite fancy them in my front garden or under my deck!

Re: Not spiders - coyotes!!
 

By the way, I wasn't saying you were not telling a news item by calling it a story. It just sounded like everyone was coming up with one better than the last.

I'm afraid you can keep your coyotes, as I said, I'll stick to South West Ontario and keep my wildlife sightings to proper trips up north.

Re: Not spiders - coyotes!!
 

No problem :) As I said - not at all common, thank god! I certainly wouldn't want to have been the guy that found the Cougar under the deck either :scared:

We used to go caravaning in the UK, there's no way you'll get me camping out here - for the above reasons! If you go hiking in the mountains you have to take bells and such, and keep making lots of noise so as to keep the bears away, and not startle them. I would want to go to the mountains for peace and quiet - kind of defeats the object, eh?? :D:D

Re: Not spiders - coyotes!!
 

Im bringing a couple of ridgebacks when we move over there so we should be ok with most things :)

Re: Not spiders - coyotes!!
 

I heard they eat Ridgebacks ?


;)