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Some of the people I have talked to prior to their going for such walks/runs...are really baffling.
As Yogi Berra would say, déjà vu all over again. Can you say chase instinct?Global Toronto wrote:
If Mitchell ran from the coyotes or panicked, it may have triggered a predatory response in the animals, he said.
.I was out on an afternoon hike with a friend on the trail around Lake Hodges in Escondido when two coyotes pranced across the trail in front of us. They were heading in the general direction of the lake, and were not even 15 yards away from us. I had my German Shepherd with me.
We stopped and I pointed out the coyotes to my friend. They stopped and stared. My dog noticed them (first time in all the times I have been with him and seen them). He did not react as he would if it were a loose dog, but he did start to whimper shepherd style. This was my closest encounter, to be sure.
I had just read an article about coyotes that morning. One thing it said to do was to wave sticks, make loud noises, like what they say to do when you see a Mountain Lion. The article talked about how coyotes have gotten bolder around people, and it is good to try to scare them, and not turn your back on them.
I was not too worried with it being only two coyotes, but I was concerned there could be more in the bushes. I yelled in a deep voice and the smaller one ran into the woods.
The bigger one started off, then stopped and gave me a stare down. I felt I had no choice but to make more noise, I even threw a dirt clod that hit a tree not far from the coyote.
He flinched a bit, but just stared, then finally turned and went on. We were so close to the lot where our car was that we hurried on the trail. When we got to the car, we heard several yips coming from the woods. I guess the coyotes found something they were happy about.
I actually wish I had had my camera, because these were beautiful animals...just like the picture that 1AngryTaxPayer posted previously.
I do find it disconcerting that it was not even dark, although the sun had gone below the skyline of the hills, but these guys were out and seemed to have little fear. Not the skittish animal I have seen in other wilderness settings.
So I am spooked again...and will need to be very careful about when I walk on that trail. I thought the sunlight hours were safe hours. Several years ago I used to bike the trail around the same time of day, but the bike was much faster...and with the dog now, I really want to walk places and not have to worry too much about getting attacked.
Today I also learned more about the coyotes that live along the north county rail trail near my house. Neighbors told me that there have been packs of coyotes along those tracks for many years. It's amazing to me since the trail runs pretty close to a busy road.
I also heard that several years back a woman was on that busy road sitting at a bus stop when a pack of coyotes attacked her. It was early morning, just before dawn. That is spooky because I thought the busy road was safer for me to walk the dog along
Ah, but moose are Alaska's sheep. This state has people who live in remote areas, and for whom a gallon of milk costs $8.00, and so moose is considered subsistence, and can be hunted by those individuals. If a pack of wolves gets too big and starts truly decimating a herd, to the point of nearly (or in the case of one island, completely within a few more years) wiping it out, human beings starve.Bill Glasheen wrote:
The only problem would be the degree to which they're poaching on farm animals. Is that a concern in Alaska? Got sheep? (Methinks not so much.)
Hunting is a good-sized chunk of Alaska's economy (behind oil and tourism (which itself is tied in with hunting). Looking at the everything, I think they're doing a pretty good job of it. Nobody's perfect, but since the state seems stuck in its present modus operandi, taking away wildlife management in the name of balance would knock everything off kilter.That's all fine and good until you kill so many wolves that you have another problem (e.g. the deer or other grazing animals).
It's all supposed to be a balance. Man doesn't exactly have a good track record getting it right.
- Bill
Culling our race... nature does its bestMany people will walk/run trails without giving second thoughts to predatory attacks by animals or humans. Yet they know it has happened and it could happen to them...but they go into denial...
Why?
And why would they not consider carrying some sort of weapon just in case?
Some of the people I have talked to prior to their going for such walks/runs...are really baffling.
I think it is nature's way to cull the human race.
I was not in danger even with only fabric between us. True story... I have had both birds and dragonflies hover around me and follow me around my (Virginia) property.CANDANeh wrote:
Can you sense they are hunting or are they hoping you will cause smaller prey to move for them like a field mouse etc..?
Not sure my scouts would be allowed to have one but WOW! Over the years I have seen clever modifications to basic equipment and the survival staff hits near top of the list.Here's the walking 'stick' to have when walking the woods...
I think we would be great neighbors.
We would certainly entertain our other neighbors I`m sure of that.
Right on. The "wild" only takes what is needed...they will leave your Rolex aloneNature can learn to live with you while maintaining their wildness. That's the best of all worlds.
Anyone that has had a working dog sleep by his side has been given the opportunity to experience co existence.It sure is a clever design. But in talking to many people over the years, it was apparent to me that they were in a huge denial situation re the dangers of solitary exposure to trails...by four or two legged predators.Not sure my scouts would be allowed to have one but WOW! Over the years I have seen clever modifications to basic equipment and the survival staff hits near top of the list.
