indyfabz

Just don't mess with these fellows that I rode passed in South Dakota. They can be quite nasty. Kill and injure more people than bears in Yellowstone.

bobwysiwyg

#1 mosquitos
#2 might be hippos??

bobwysiwyg

Well, wrong on both counts. Should have known better about #1 .

indyfabz

According to this site, the mosquito is No. 1.

https://www.sciencealert.com/what-are-the-worlds-15-deadliest-animals

Figured snakes would be up there, but not dogs.

seeker333

Forget coyotes and mosquitoes, cows are the real danger.

HTupolev

Top 5 deadliest animals are humans, mosquitoes, sharks, narwhals, and velociraptors.

BigAura

But sharks are so cute:

bobwysiwyg

Are velociraptors cycle riding dinosaurs?

Bikesplendor

It's surprising how many people are felled by scorpions.

Fatality is not the only concern, though. Painful and extremely painful bites are also worth avoiding.

I notice that Coyote Peterson avoided the most painful scorpion in the Sonoran desert, the bark scorpion, but allowed himself to be bitten by two other species of scorpion. It's good to know the habits of the bark scorpion, and how to avoid accidentally getting bitten by touching one unexpectedly hanging upside down, as they like to do.

He has some entertaining, interesting and at the same time educational videos. I've learned a lot from him. I had a little rodent just like this guy crawl up my leg the other day. Another almost did the same tonight. They seem strangely fearless.

McBTC

Except for using food as a pillow in bear country, I'd be more concerned about skunks than coyotes....

Bikesplendor

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.

travelinhobo

I live on my bike. This is my third winter in the desert of southern CA and AZ (which is part of the Sonoran). Hear the coyotes frequently in my sleeping bag, but they've never disturbed me. If I'm here when the temps are high, I start worrying about Rattlers and scorpions, tho have never seen them and the locals always say they've never seen a rattler. The other night after going to bed (I don't use a tent), I did start to get worried about bobcats as I had been told the day before they're in the area. Didn't sleep well that nite.

Bikesplendor

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?

Cyclist0108

Afrikanized coyotes are now a real threat. Must be the hyena mixed in the genome.

chrisx

Wild pigs are a greater threat to the safety of bike campers. If the young coyotes try to hard to be your friend, light a fire cracker, you will never see them again.

willibrord

Are the Mexican coyotes any different from the American varieties? I was surprised to learn that the Eastern american coyotes are bigger than the Western.

stevepusser

Yes, they know you're there. I've heard that the native Americans, who called them "song dogs", had a saying--"A man went into the woods.
The rabbit heard him.
The eagle saw him.
The bear smelled him.
But Old Man Coyote did all three."

For what it's worth, you can also sorta befriend them and they'll accompany you on your night walks, though they are naturally very suspicious of hoomans, and it takes quite a while to get them to this point: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1U4...toPOchRnHeyvn-

Before everyone piles onto me, consider that these animals are still very wary of any one but me, and are already suburban beasts. Maybe hanging around with me keeps them out of people's yards and away from their small dogs and cats. They are generally very quiet, but sirens or other dogs howling will set them off singing out of nowhere, and that can be startling when they do it 15 feet behind you in the dark.

I also personally know several cyclists that have been attacked, knocked down, and severely injured at high speeds by dogs--nothing from coyotes, though. I think bobcat attacks on humans are even more rare than coyote attacks, too--even when they seem habituated to cyclists:

stevepusser

Baboon troops are infamous for breaking into houses and cars in South Africa. A tent would be just a big gift-wrapped present to them.

McBTC

Have mosquitoes killed half the people who ever lived?

factmyth.com/factoids/malaria-killed-half-the-people-who-have-ever-lived/

stevepusser

I believe it's a general rule in biology that the same species' body sizes tend to be larger in areas with longer and harsher winters, in order to conserve body heat.

Steve B.

Good read here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_coyote

BigAura

chrisx

In the forest, a leaf fell from a tree.
the deer heard it
the eagle saw it
the bear smelled it.

Making friends with wild animals is a mistake.
it makes them vulnerable to other non friendly people,
coyotes and wolves do not know how fragile people are,
those little f uckers have sharp teeth, especialy the 6, 8, 10 month old coyotes willing to let you touch them, coyote games can hurt you,

Coyotes are still alive because of their natural fear of humans, keep it that way.

JoeyBike

Raccoons can be quite annoying in campgrounds where they have been spoiled by nitwit family campers.

willibrord

Interesting stuff. I wonder if mexican coyotes have mexican wolf DNA?