Dangers from Coyotes?
#101
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They do appear to be a bit accident-prone
#102
#104
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Thanks for sharing that. Interesting lifestyle. I would like to hear more about your adventures.
I've camped more in forested areas up north. But I don't like the winters there. The Sonoran desert has its beauties, and it's kind of growing on me. I've never tried it during the hottest months, and I'm not sure I want to, but the rest is fine.
I've heard of bobcat problems, but I think they are very rare. Do you carry anything for self defense? I went through a lot of options and settled on bear spray (UDAP brand), and I've been happy with it.
I have almost stepped on a rattlesnake. I was looking out at the view, and he or she was right in my path. Glad it had some rattles left. They seem to come out more as it warms up, and are less nocturnal in milder weather, more nocturnal when it's really hot.
I've been charged by a javelina, but it just seemed startled and confused. I've seen them wandering and foraging in groups. Also saw some bighorn sheep that seemed curious about me. Various lizards. Will be watching for the desert iguanas in the creosote bushes as it gets warmer. Ravens, turkey vultures, eagles, free range cattle, hummingbird moths, hummingbirds, kangaroo rats, chipmunk-like ground squirrels, scorpions, a large unknown lizard, jackrabbits, cottontails, coyotes, tarantula hawks, and others.... It's a pretty interesting environment.
Do you have anything like a blog, or more about your travels and adventures?
I've camped more in forested areas up north. But I don't like the winters there. The Sonoran desert has its beauties, and it's kind of growing on me. I've never tried it during the hottest months, and I'm not sure I want to, but the rest is fine.
I've heard of bobcat problems, but I think they are very rare. Do you carry anything for self defense? I went through a lot of options and settled on bear spray (UDAP brand), and I've been happy with it.
I have almost stepped on a rattlesnake. I was looking out at the view, and he or she was right in my path. Glad it had some rattles left. They seem to come out more as it warms up, and are less nocturnal in milder weather, more nocturnal when it's really hot.
I've been charged by a javelina, but it just seemed startled and confused. I've seen them wandering and foraging in groups. Also saw some bighorn sheep that seemed curious about me. Various lizards. Will be watching for the desert iguanas in the creosote bushes as it gets warmer. Ravens, turkey vultures, eagles, free range cattle, hummingbird moths, hummingbirds, kangaroo rats, chipmunk-like ground squirrels, scorpions, a large unknown lizard, jackrabbits, cottontails, coyotes, tarantula hawks, and others.... It's a pretty interesting environment.
Do you have anything like a blog, or more about your travels and adventures?
#105
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#106
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I'm a fan of coyotes, at least the Western variety. I have pleasant memories of wandering around the (at the time undeveloped) areas between Boulder and Denver around sunset, while these majestic creatures were prancing and howling. No fear here; they tended to be very shy, and smaller than most feral dogs. They'd give me a quick glance, then go do their thing.
The biggest issues with coyotes where I lived were attacks on smaller animals, including domestic cats, squirrels, and smaller livestock. There were also some attacks on toddlers and infants as development happened, but this was an unfortunate consequence of housing being built in their homeland. My biggest concern about camping out with coyotes would be if you also have children or smaller dogs.
#108
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I don't know, I would read a blog about your travels and life. I think quite a few people might be interested. If you're interested in writing about it.
Last edited by Bikesplendor; 03-09-19 at 06:51 PM.
#109
Bison vs stupid pitbull (predictions?),
https://youtu.be/qiQqScJCxpI
Bison vs moronic tourist,
https://youtu.be/PNvTHOrTf_Y
https://youtu.be/qiQqScJCxpI
Bison vs moronic tourist,
https://youtu.be/PNvTHOrTf_Y
Once again, these show the extents necessary to INCITE a confrontation. Try any of these interactions with a human neighbor and things could turn out considerably worse.
Last edited by BigAura; 03-09-19 at 07:05 PM.
#110
Senior Member
By the way, the coyotes have not bit me or nor anyone else in two years. They remain quite fearful of anyone other than me, too...and they are not that sure about me--though they did do the humpty-hump many times both years right in front of me during the mating season the first two weeks of the year--a good reason to celebrate Jan. 1 if you're a coyote, if you ask me.
However, a friendly animal also puts itself in more danger if there are a**hole humans around, too: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_(wolf) though he did live longer than most wolves do in the wild.
Last edited by stevepusser; 03-09-19 at 07:08 PM.
#112
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This is not my opinion. It is pretty much The Law unless otherwise permitted through special licenses. And for good reason.
#115
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coyotes are very skittish animals, they don't care to be around humans whatsoever and will stay far away. You hear them at night but it's not big deal, I've had encounters with them and they run and hide; a mountain lion on the other hand, if they're hungry your food to them, while they usually don't attack humans they have been known to do so if you have intruded near their den or they're hungry, they've killed a few mountain bikers, and chased roadies, not sure if they ever killed a roadie.
#116
a mountain lion on the other hand, if they're hungry your food to them, while they usually don't attack humans they have been known to do so if you have intruded near their den or they're hungry, they've killed a few mountain bikers, and chased roadies, not sure if they ever killed a roadie.
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That has got to be one of the dumbest studies I've read in a while. According to the study:
But is it really safer to stay put than flee?
Not necessarily, says a new study, which warns that standing still may up one's risk of becoming mountain lion chow.
Richard Coss...studied the behavior of 185 people who were attacked by mountain lions...
half of the 18 people who ran when they were attacked escaped injury...
those who ran had a slightly higher chance of being killed in an attack—28 percent...
compared with 23 percent (eight) of those who remained motionless during big cat attacks. About 39 percent...
who moved away slowly when approached by a mountain lion escaped without injury.
On the other hand, people who froze were the least likely to escape injury... Only 26 percent of them escaped...
43 percent of those who stood still in the face of a lion were badly injured compared with 17 percent of those who fled, according to the study.
"Immobility may be interpreted by the mountain lion as a sign that you are vulnerable prey,"... "not moving could lead the predator to think you're not aware of its presence or are incapable of escaping. Staring down a puma can let the animal know you’re aware it’s looking.
Thus, running might be the smartest move, Coss concludes, particularly if you are in a situation that allows you to sprint in a sure-footed fashion.
End quote.
What a mess. The researcher first admits standing your ground causes less injury than running but then conflates that freezing and remaining frozen leads to more injury than freezing and running and so suggests running might be better. Particularly of you're in the position to be sure footed.
Mountain lion - 50mph for 2 minutes
Usain Bolt - 28mph for 100yards.
Completely ignores his own findings as to the safest course of action:About 39 percent... who moved away slowly when approached by a mountain lion escaped without injury.
But is it really safer to stay put than flee?
Not necessarily, says a new study, which warns that standing still may up one's risk of becoming mountain lion chow.
Richard Coss...studied the behavior of 185 people who were attacked by mountain lions...
half of the 18 people who ran when they were attacked escaped injury...
those who ran had a slightly higher chance of being killed in an attack—28 percent...
compared with 23 percent (eight) of those who remained motionless during big cat attacks. About 39 percent...
who moved away slowly when approached by a mountain lion escaped without injury.
On the other hand, people who froze were the least likely to escape injury... Only 26 percent of them escaped...
43 percent of those who stood still in the face of a lion were badly injured compared with 17 percent of those who fled, according to the study.
"Immobility may be interpreted by the mountain lion as a sign that you are vulnerable prey,"... "not moving could lead the predator to think you're not aware of its presence or are incapable of escaping. Staring down a puma can let the animal know you’re aware it’s looking.
Thus, running might be the smartest move, Coss concludes, particularly if you are in a situation that allows you to sprint in a sure-footed fashion.
End quote.
What a mess. The researcher first admits standing your ground causes less injury than running but then conflates that freezing and remaining frozen leads to more injury than freezing and running and so suggests running might be better. Particularly of you're in the position to be sure footed.
Mountain lion - 50mph for 2 minutes
Usain Bolt - 28mph for 100yards.
Completely ignores his own findings as to the safest course of action:About 39 percent... who moved away slowly when approached by a mountain lion escaped without injury.
Last edited by Happy Feet; 03-15-19 at 11:13 PM.
#119
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one coyote memory, well...a few now, is sneaking up on a coyote on a quite bicycle while it licks the remains of a dead road turtle. The vertical leap must be 18 inches.
#120
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That has got to be one of the dumbest studies I've read in a while. According to the study:
But is it really safer to stay put than flee?
Not necessarily, says a new study, which warns that standing still may up one's risk of becoming mountain lion chow.
Richard Coss...studied the behavior of 185 people who were attacked by mountain lions...
half of the 18 people who ran when they were attacked escaped injury...
those who ran had a slightly higher chance of being killed in an attack—28 percent...
compared with 23 percent (eight) of those who remained motionless during big cat attacks. About 39 percent...
who moved away slowly when approached by a mountain lion escaped without injury.
On the other hand, people who froze were the least likely to escape injury... Only 26 percent of them escaped...
43 percent of those who stood still in the face of a lion were badly injured compared with 17 percent of those who fled, according to the study.
"Immobility may be interpreted by the mountain lion as a sign that you are vulnerable prey,"... "not moving could lead the predator to think you're not aware of its presence or are incapable of escaping. Staring down a puma can let the animal know you’re aware it’s looking.
Thus, running might be the smartest move, Coss concludes, particularly if you are in a situation that allows you to sprint in a sure-footed fashion.
End quote.
What a mess. The researcher first admits standing your ground causes less injury than running but then conflates that freezing and remaining frozen leads to more injury than freezing and running and so suggests running might be better. Particularly of you're in the position to be sure footed.
Mountain lion - 50mph for 2 minutes
Usain Bolt - 28mph for 100yards.
Completely ignores his own findings as to the safest course of action:About 39 percent... who moved away slowly when approached by a mountain lion escaped without injury.
But is it really safer to stay put than flee?
Not necessarily, says a new study, which warns that standing still may up one's risk of becoming mountain lion chow.
Richard Coss...studied the behavior of 185 people who were attacked by mountain lions...
half of the 18 people who ran when they were attacked escaped injury...
those who ran had a slightly higher chance of being killed in an attack—28 percent...
compared with 23 percent (eight) of those who remained motionless during big cat attacks. About 39 percent...
who moved away slowly when approached by a mountain lion escaped without injury.
On the other hand, people who froze were the least likely to escape injury... Only 26 percent of them escaped...
43 percent of those who stood still in the face of a lion were badly injured compared with 17 percent of those who fled, according to the study.
"Immobility may be interpreted by the mountain lion as a sign that you are vulnerable prey,"... "not moving could lead the predator to think you're not aware of its presence or are incapable of escaping. Staring down a puma can let the animal know you’re aware it’s looking.
Thus, running might be the smartest move, Coss concludes, particularly if you are in a situation that allows you to sprint in a sure-footed fashion.
End quote.
What a mess. The researcher first admits standing your ground causes less injury than running but then conflates that freezing and remaining frozen leads to more injury than freezing and running and so suggests running might be better. Particularly of you're in the position to be sure footed.
Mountain lion - 50mph for 2 minutes
Usain Bolt - 28mph for 100yards.
Completely ignores his own findings as to the safest course of action:About 39 percent... who moved away slowly when approached by a mountain lion escaped without injury.
#121
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Yeah, I thought he could have done a better job of delineating between standing stock still and moving purposefully away. The notion of running is kooky. What it appeared he was suggesting is not freezing motionless like a deer in the headlights, which makes sense as it telegraphs a lack of confidence.
All of my touring is through cougar and black bear territory and often grizzly too and I live on the side of a mountain that has resident black bears and cougars. We have had them at the elementary school and behind our backyard. I've never really had a negative encounter but I do take some precautions. Off road I ride slow around blind corners and make noise, don't wear earphones and always carry bear spray. Wearing a helmet and day pack can also protect the neck area that a cougar would probably go for initially.
My thoughts are the same for both black bear and cougars: Make noise to signal my presence, put the bike between myself and the animal, talk in a calm commanding voice to demonstrate confidence and move out of the area slowly, never turning my back. We see them as apex predators but they are always making the calculation between risk vs reward in regards to food because an injured predator quickly becomes prey itself. Coyotes are even more adverse to direct confrontation.
All of my touring is through cougar and black bear territory and often grizzly too and I live on the side of a mountain that has resident black bears and cougars. We have had them at the elementary school and behind our backyard. I've never really had a negative encounter but I do take some precautions. Off road I ride slow around blind corners and make noise, don't wear earphones and always carry bear spray. Wearing a helmet and day pack can also protect the neck area that a cougar would probably go for initially.
My thoughts are the same for both black bear and cougars: Make noise to signal my presence, put the bike between myself and the animal, talk in a calm commanding voice to demonstrate confidence and move out of the area slowly, never turning my back. We see them as apex predators but they are always making the calculation between risk vs reward in regards to food because an injured predator quickly becomes prey itself. Coyotes are even more adverse to direct confrontation.
#122
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Yeah, I thought he could have done a better job of delineating between standing stock still and moving purposefully away. The notion of running is kooky. What it appeared he was suggesting is not freezing motionless like a deer in the headlights, which makes sense as it telegraphs a lack of confidence.
All of my touring is through cougar and black bear territory and often grizzly too and I live on the side of a mountain that has resident black bears and cougars. We have had them at the elementary school and behind our backyard. I've never really had a negative encounter but I do take some precautions. Off road I ride slow around blind corners and make noise, don't wear earphones and always carry bear spray. Wearing a helmet and day pack can also protect the neck area that a cougar would probably go for initially.
My thoughts are the same for both black bear and cougars: Make noise to signal my presence, put the bike between myself and the animal, talk in a calm commanding voice to demonstrate confidence and move out of the area slowly, never turning my back. We see them as apex predators but they are always making the calculation between risk vs reward in regards to food because an injured predator quickly becomes prey itself. Coyotes are even more adverse to direct confrontation.
All of my touring is through cougar and black bear territory and often grizzly too and I live on the side of a mountain that has resident black bears and cougars. We have had them at the elementary school and behind our backyard. I've never really had a negative encounter but I do take some precautions. Off road I ride slow around blind corners and make noise, don't wear earphones and always carry bear spray. Wearing a helmet and day pack can also protect the neck area that a cougar would probably go for initially.
My thoughts are the same for both black bear and cougars: Make noise to signal my presence, put the bike between myself and the animal, talk in a calm commanding voice to demonstrate confidence and move out of the area slowly, never turning my back. We see them as apex predators but they are always making the calculation between risk vs reward in regards to food because an injured predator quickly becomes prey itself. Coyotes are even more adverse to direct confrontation.
#124
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The creatures that seem most worthy of being careful about, at this point in my education at least, in the Sonoran desert, are rattlesnakes, scorpions, and desert giant centipedes. If not fatal, highly painful, unusually painful. And all the trouble that is involved in getting to a hospital and getting treated there. I haven't watched Coyote Peterson's gila monster encounter yet, but might check it out. I like to have a decent awareness and understanding of the local flora and fauna wherever I camp.