AllieP

Even though it was borderline too cold for me yesterday I went for an hour-long ride. Glad I did! About halfway into the ride a scruffy coyote stepped out from the brush onto the path I was on. It was a strange surreal experience -- the coyote didn't turn back into the weedy brush or run away. It just stood there on the path looking at me, about 20-25 feet away. I don't think I've ever been that close to one before. I live in a suburban area and was riding in a natural area alongside a river - there's a paved path for walkers and cyclists. It turned and started to trot away from me but would stop every few feet and turn around to see me again. I decided to slowly follow and try to get a picture with my phone's camera. Didn't work though. The camera in my phone sucks. Then the coyote was about 50 feet away and turning around a bend in the path so I couldn't see it anymore. I decided not to press my luck and turned around to go back the way I came from and just ride somewhere else. I started pedaling and turned around one more time and lo and behold - the coyote turned around and was following ME now! I pedaled hard to get away...I have to admit it unnerved me. I was completely alone on that path yesterday but I was still really excited to see it that close. I've ridden there hundreds of times and have never seen a coyote. It was so odd because as I was pedaling onto the path I was thinking about all the animals I have seen and heard in the past couple of years. And I'd never seen a coyote there. I've never seen a deer there but I know they're in there. Maybe that will be next.

greenbreezer

I live in the 'burbs but am real close to the ranches and pastures. I ride my bike home every day on a road that runs along the pastures. I once encountered a bobcat with a dead fieldmouse in its mouth. It was nervous and wanted to make a getaway but I could tell he didn't want to turn its back on me. I waited and watched and he slowly walked backwards til he was far enough to turn and run. Deers are a common occurance and every now and then I see wild turkeys. Sometimes they'll even be on the road with traffic patiently waiting for them to clear. The funny part is that their instinct to herd is so strong that if they get split up into two or more groups, they go into a frenzy until they're all back together. They literally run all over the road until they do, which looks like turkey chaos in the middle of the road. But once they're together again, they non-chalantly strut to the other side as if they're saying, "Whew, that was a close one; we can move on now." Always gives me a good laugh.

Keith99

Coyotes have become a bit of a problem in the San Fernando Valley and other areas near Los Angeles. My house backs up to a park and we have had them on and off for years. A few weeks ago I even saw one on the street in front of the house. a couple of weeks later the pack was on the hill behind the house. I foolishly let the dogs out.

No nothing happened to the dogs. But they got through the fence like it wasn't there. No coyotes since. The pups are sweethearts but they are not fond of other animals who tresspass on their turf.

AllieP

Now that is a great description of the turkey flock. I would love to see that one sometime!

AllieP

So I am really wondering...did I do the right thing by high-tailing it out of there? I really don't know if my adrenaline was making me over-react to the coyote or what. I was just so shocked that this animal did not run away from me or try to hide. It seemed so interested and curious as to what I was going to do. But when it did start following me I was really scared for a few minutes considering I was completely alone on this path and all I had to protect me was a cell phone. This sounds so naive but do coyotes chase people or attack them? I have seen so many snakes along this same path and even ran over one last summer. I once saw a water moccasin crossing this path that was ENORMOUS. But still I knew the snakes just want to get away from me. The coyote - I'm not so sure about. Should I be worried about encountering one there again?

Litespeed

Generally coyotes will not bother you, they are very shy animals. He was probably just curious about you. I walk in an area where there are lots of coyotes. I have even seen a bobcat when I was riding my horse and once when I was riding my horse we came across several coyotes pups that were playing (what a cute sight), didn't see mom though. Now a pack of coyotes might make me nervous, but I wouldn't worry about one lone coyote. If a coyote acts in an agressive manner or an unusal manner, like coming very close to you, don't turn your back on the animal, simply pick up a stick or rock and throw at the animal, make yourself appear as big as possible. Even pick up your bike and yell at animal, they will turn and run.

Keith99

I've never heard of a coyote attacking a full grown human.

Children, cats and small dogs are a different story.

Coyote!

Nah. We're a hazard to your cat and the neighbor's foo-foo dog, but not you. Now if you encounter a human under these same conditions, better take care. Humans are the most dangerous creatures.

RocketsRedglare

You got to watch out for the ones with rollerskates and a jetpack

tulip

We have a flock of wild turkeys near my house--they make a racket! We also have coyotes, but I've never seen one. I've seen fox and bald eagles, in addition to the usual possum, racoons, deer, and rats.

2manybikes

A friend of mine had a pack of coyotes living nearby. He used to throw food out for them so they would come into the yard and he could see them. Not the best idea in the world. (He lived alone) He even named them.
One of them followed me when I walked a way to get to my car when I was leaving. I suspect the pack was nearby. That was not cool. I've seen pleny of lone coyotes, but I don't want to run into a pack.

Finally one day the woods were silent. No more squirrels, chipmunks, small birds etc.
Then the pack moved on.

rcyclist68

Yeah, you did the right thing, it could have had rabies. Sick predatory animals have been known to attack humans out of deparation, remember the cougar attacks in California on some mountan bikers a couple years ago? Even a defensive bite would require painful rabies vaccination shots.

CB HI

A single coyote is not a problem. If you are concerned, get off the bike and put it between you and the coyote (same as for a barking dog), they have no idea how to handle the bike.

A hungry pack, ride as fast as you can.

My guess is that this coyote probably had a couple of pups in the bushes. It let you follow it while it was leading you away from her pups, and would have eventually ducked into the bushes and circled back once she felt you were far enough away. The fact that you turned back, heading back towards the pups concerned her, so she followed (and might have put you in danger if she felt the pups were in danger from you).

MikeR

Many animals will track a human in the woods - coyotes especially, but even deer do it. It does not necessarily mean that they are hunting you. That is just their way of keeping an eye on you. They figure that’s best way to hide from someone in the woods is to follow them so they know exactly where he is and do not get any surprises.

DieselDan

Is this spam for ACME?

MarkS

It seems like the coyote population is booming across North America. Apparently they like our suburban lifestyle. Its not always good for them -- I passed a dead one laying in the BL a few days ago.

twahl

The coyote is not likely to be a problem, and neither are most snakes. A water moccasin however is a dangerous and aggressive snake. They will often go out of their way to go after you.

willtsmith_nwi

The house population is booming in North America. The coyotes are just something they run into a little more.

There is no practical way of getting rid of coyotes. You cannot shoot enough to eliminate them completely. All a dead coyote means is that the other coyotes have more food.

There is ONE way to eliminate coyotes. Introduce a wolf-pack to an area. The wolfs will either kill them or drive them out. They are natural competitors and the wolves have no problems with making a meal out of coyotes. However, I doubt that you would like to introduce a wolf pack to your 'burb.

Coyotes are virtually harmless to people and dogs that aren't complete sissies. They take small game and foal deer, thats about it. You are in far more danger from being run down by all those cars than finding that lone crazy coyote that's lost it's mind and will attack a human.

And BTW everybody, NEVER run from a canine. That turns you into prey in their mind. Besides, unless you are on pavement, you are unlikely to escape a dog worth running from.

Coyote!

Just to add a little more to willtsmith's sensible information, if you've ever encountered a coyote at close range, you'll discover just how puny they are as compared to the popular [mis]conception. It doesn't take much of a domestic dog to scare 'em off.

I've never seen any information implicating healthy coyotes in injuring humans. In fact, I don't know of any problems with wolves either hurting folks in North America. . .unlike their European cousins who will hunt you. . if you're lucky enough to be in a place where they survive. [Shivver.]

'Nother thing. . .coyotes rarely form packs. They live in nuclear families. . .mom, dad, the kids. . .occasionally a surviving grandmother or whatnot. It's wolves as live in 'packs', actually extended families. And you bet, wolves will eradicate coyotes. Let's bring back wolf!!! As you can see, coyote will take care of herself as long as the mouse and grasshopper population is good.

Ozrider

We are getting a lot of coyotes in Southern Wisconsin. Some of them are rabid. What's happening here is that the wolf packs are moving back into the northern part of the state. That's a good thing, by the way. In most forests in Wisconsin, the wolves are at the top of the food chain. They see the coyotes as competition, so they drive them away.
Incidentally, as one who grew up in the woods, it ain't natural for a wild animal to check you out that long, especially a predator. Most animals have a healthy fear of humans and won't hang around too long once they spot you. Yes, it is true that some animals will freeze when they see you, but those are generally prey. For them, it's a way of seeing what you are going to do before they make a move. Following you is NOT a natural thing to do. Getting out of there was smart.
And, depending on where you live, you might have wolves near you and never know it. Wolves will not attack humans. They are very good at hiding.

SteveFox

ya, tahts happened to me, i had my .22 out in the pasture at my grandmas farm, and i got surrounded by 7 of em...i had to shoot 2, before they ran away. it was pretty scary.
but on this topic, i saw a wolf today. i was out riding on of the back roads, doing some single track stuff, and theres a spot where people dump all thier deer carcases after hunting them, and there was a black wold chewing on one of em...so i started whistling, and it went into the trees. i was gonna snap a pic of it, but my camera was in my pocket, and got cold, so it wouldnt turn on...o well.

steve

unkchunk

Oh, the animal Cayote. For a second I thought the thread was going to be about environmentally proactive immigrant smugglers. I don't think I could have handled that.

demoncyclist

There was a coyote attack here in MA a few months go. A man and his grandson walking in the woods not to far from here. Coyote went for the grandson. Grandpa wrestled with it, got some bites while granson went for help.

Polonswim

This is great advise. The bike makes a great shield for almost anything that threatens you (includeing most lunatic people).

DannoXYZ 

Yeah, a mountain-biker got attached by a cougar in the LA area last year. Someone came to his rescue by using his bike as a shield & weapon to fight it off.