Are those northeastern coyotes hungry?

[postoak]

Perhaps the 911-caller only heard the attack from a distance and the coyotes ran off as she approached.

[Hi Ball]

Well Purple Heart, most people don't really know what a coyote is capable of and especially if there are 3 of the critters ganged together. I do not go down to the kennels unless I have my handgun period.

I did see coyotes that were at least 50 pounders are better in Sask. Canada a few years ago, I really thought they were wolfs but was told no. I never worried about bears at night in Canada, it was those friggin coyotes they have up there that gave me the chills after dark.

The coyote is the smartest animal on the face of the earth in my humble opinion and can adapt to any conditions. They are going strong in the subdivisions and are multiplying as well. They are indeed capable to exist anywhere in the lower 48. They will eat your dog or your child if they get a chance to do so, this is serious business for those who move out from the inner city and let their kids play in the backyard unatended.

[swamp]

i've often wondered about the 911 caller as well... i hope that the entire story is brought to light someday.

[GF.]

Originally Posted by postoak

Perhaps the 911-caller only heard the attack from a distance and the coyotes ran off as she approached.

Nope; the attack continued until the cops showed up and shot one of the coyotes. That must have been one hell of a long response time for the girl getting mauled, and probably almost as long for the 911 caller to watch and/or listen to it.

I can't help but wonder, but without knowing more, I can't condemn that person for not wading in; you never know if they were elderly, infirm, or simply terrified by the prospect. Most of us here have some clue about coyotes and are probably just... ornery? 'macho'? 'boy scout'?...stupid?... Whatever you wanna call it, we've probably got enough of it in us to run in there and start kicking in ribs. But for anybody without any prior exposure to them, well, there were two man-eaters going about their business. And honestly, I don't think I'd be anywhere near as likely to jump in there - unarmed - had it been a larger predator....


I'm just glad that I won't have the same tapes running in my head that the 911 caller will. When those go on automatic play-back at night, it's not gonna be pleasant.

Say, Hi-Ball...

I don't blame you one bit for keeping a pistol handy; and in your place, I might prefer something more along the lines of a riot gun or a carbine that handles a very large mag full of suitable ammo.

The boys are growing up fast and their mom is allergic to dogs, but I always thought that if I had little kids in an area with a decent coyote population, I'd look very seriously at acquiring an Irish Wolfhound to keep an eye on them out in the yard for me.

Maybe two

[Greywolf]

Originally Posted by Wismon

Greywolf, that coyote's as big as your trapping partner!

The coyote was better mannered and better looking though.

I went and looked at the note on the back of the pic, and it said
"....'68- weight 65lbs."

[Greywolf]

Originally Posted by GF.

GW – that’s one huge freakin’ ‘yote!

I once examined a big dog from northern MN that went #45, skinned out. That’s an impressive-lookin’ carnivore, man. Their jaws don’t look like much, but there was no lack of muscle anywhere around his head or neck.



I don’t know what the article means by “The coyotes continued to act aggressively after officers arrived. “ That could mean that they didn’t break off the attack, or it could mean they just stood there growling at the competitors that were moving in on their kill, which is exactly what you’d expect them to do if they were being chased off by a cougar, bear, or a small number of wolves.

GF Funny you should mention that.
This one came from your neighborhood there in CT.!

Re: they continued to act aggressive...
I think what they meant was the coyotes were at a high level of excitement and were ready for all comers.

As Swamp said in another post, they are cowards for the most part. True. They would be as gone as could be if they knew you were aproaching. That or let you go on by while they remained hidden under your nose.
And yes, a good stout stick is as good a weapon as you need ....when they have not been disrupted on a kill or cornered.
A friggin agitated racoon will continue to attack with both eyballs batted out of it's head. Seen it more than once.

Case in point.
My little bitty mother, once called me about her cat getting harrassed by a couple of dogs. "Young Shepards" she said.
Note:She was going blind at the time.-
So she intervened and back handed one of em and chased them off. At that point they had her cat up an apple tree in the back yard. She (the cat) was nipped a couple times but must have been close enough to the tree to make an escape on first contact.
These "Shepards" were two young yotes, and there is not a doubt in my mind that, had they been in possesion of her cat, the outcome of that commical incedent would have been a whole lot different.

The eastern Coyote act much more like a wolf, in that they coordinate in thier hunting and cooperate, (recognise a leader).

[dave-t.]

I heard 4 coyotes take down a deer while I was bow hunting one early Oct. Little 4pt buck running flat out across a bean field with two coyotes close behind him. He tried to cross the deep banked creek to get to cover, but there were other yotes in the drop off waiting on him. Once that deer dropped down out of sight, the balling started and the two trailing him dove down into the fight.

Those yotes had a plan of attack, and I doubt it was the first time they ran that plan. That property was also loaded with yotes. Either a lot of competition for food, or a lot of partners to bring animals down. I had a lot of encounters with yotes while turkey hunting that farm too.

About 2002 I was gun hunting at my father inlaws, it was a warm day and my daughter and nephew were playing on the swingset up by the house 200yds away. I could just hear their voices, sqeally laughs and play talk from toddlers 3-4yrs old. While I was hearing them, I noticed a coyote coming right up the creek on a lope. I shot her at 60yrds or so. After 30-40 minutes, with the kids still making play noises, I saw another yote working up the opposite side of the field, again headed to my corner of the field which was right between the house and the yote. Popped that one, a male, at about 85yds.

The only thing I can think of that had had those yotes attention and had them moving in like that, was those kid's high pitched laughing and playfull sqealling. It made an impression on me. I don't think the yotes would have ran clear into the yard, but that is the direction they were headed.

[GF.]

I wouldn't put it past 'em, hate to say... Damn good thing that you noticed, and even better that you had the wherewithal to put the smack-down on 'em.

Funny thing.. After this thread, I feel a bit less silly for having had an uneasy feeling when I was tracking big coyotes all over Itasca state park that one winter. There's something about following a large predator into a prime ambush site that makes the hair on your neck pay attention - even if the predator in question does have a rep for being human-shy.

I even basically chickened out of going for a shot on one while I was out bowhunting one year. Coming down the slope, one just tuned up howling a little ways down-hill of me. Then a couple others joined in. I don't know if they were on a kill or just socializing, or what, but you tend to think of coyote howls as yips and yaps and ki-yi-yis off in the distance, and this one's voice had that same, booming quality of a Hollywood bloodhound in THX surround sound.

So I thought better of sneaking in there and trying to plunk an arrow into one. Probably should have gone for it, but sometimes you behave differently when you're a couple miles back into the woods, on your own, and with no cell phone....

[Hi Ball]

GF......I usually have at least a 45acp on my hip but mostly the 10mm as it shoots much faster and flatter too using those 165 grn bullets. I have had coyotes dig under my 44 inch Red Brand cattle fence that lays down on the ground hog ringed to my existing 6ft fence. They usually give up the dig after about 2 foot and cannot raise the fence up to get underneath it, which would enable them to get into my 2 acre compound. This is where the 80ft long dog kennel is located.

I have no doubts that the 10mm will do a complete pass through on Mr. Coyote and he won't be healing up from any of those wound channels my bullets make in his hide. If I see one in the daylight hours, I grab the FAL with a 20 rd mag and cut loose on the critter. Those .308 military rounds will just zing right on through a song dog from bow to stern.