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A couple of weeks ago my husband saw a coyote on his way to work. It was only about 1/2 mile from our house. I was a little concerned about how close it was to our property but didn't really think much about it.

Today I decided to take four of the dogs for a walk (our three and one of our fosters, Peach). We hardly got up on the trail when all four of them took off after something. I called to them and soon saw a turkey trotting up the hillside and another flying off down the hillside. So I guessed they had stirred them up. Smiley and Oscar returned to my side within a minute of two, but Dexter and Peach were long gone up over the hill. I could hear them barking on the chase of something. I was a bit worried because I had never walked Peach in the woods without a leash.

So I walked quickly up to the top of the ridge and to a large hilltop pasture that circles around another patch of woods. I could hear Peach on the other side of those woods barking frantically at something. I called and called to her and soon Dexter came running around the other side of that patch of woods and I thought it was Peach following him. But as they approached I realized it was a coyote following/chasing him. I called to Dexter and Peach and the coyote stopped, tucked tail, and slunk off down into the woods. I could still hear Peach barking off in the distance and wasn't sure I wanted to pursue her if there was a coyote in the woods. So I decided the behavior it showed a few moments ago probably meant it wouldn't come near me.

I walked through the pasture around the woods and never did find Peach. I looked and looked and called and called and never saw her. I did smell something dead and wondered if maybe the coyote was chasing Dexter away from his dinner. So after finally deciding/hoping she had gone on home, I turned around myself and went back home. Sure enough there she was with Oscar waiting for me, looking as if "What's your problem?"

I was glad she was safe and sound, but a bit alarmed that a coyote was so close to my home. I've always figured there were coyotes around, but now having seen one up close and not far from our house, I'll be a little more concerned. Makes me wonder if they are watching from under the brambles and thickets when I hike in my woods.

Lois, unless a coyote is rabid, you shouldn't have to worry about your safety with one. They won't attack a human without good reason.

The dogs may get into a fight with a coyote if it is protecting it's kill. But, very seldom has a coytoe approached a house with dogs that are at least as large as it is.

Your ducks and geese may be fair game though, if the dogs are not free to encounter the coyote when they visit your pond.

Of course this is assuming that you have a lone coytoe near by and not a family. They do tend to be loners, and while very bold, they are not normally aggresive.

Keep us posted on any future sightings.

Rose

We have had many coyotes around here lately and they keep their distance from my place because I always have a couple of my dogs loose. They frequent a neighbors farm and steal chickens, he tends to lock his dogs up at nite.

Hurray for the coyotes! I've always hated the reputation that the media has given them, when all they are doing is following their natural instincts.

Marian

Saw a dead coyote on the road this morning as I drove to work. Our property is kind of "L" shaped. You have to drive just over a mile down a one-lane country road to get to our house, but our property actually bends back around to the main road. It was on the highway right by that part of the property that I saw the coyote. So I'm wondering if that was the coyote I saw the other day. Hope not. Even though I don't want the critter eating my critters, I didn't want him dead.

Farmers around here will shoot coyotes, they have gotten a bad rap.
I see one every once in awhile running across the field and I am in awe at their speed. You know it must be a coyote and no dog to run that fast. Cool!

My husband found out this evening that one of our neighbors was up on his high pasture watching his cattle. He saw a coyote come running across the open field and then saw three others waiting for it in the distance. His high pasture adjoins the location I saw the coyote on the other day.

I've looked into this because we had a coyote "problem" in our old neighborhood in California. It was a problem because the coyotes, whose natural habitat is being destroyed by new housing developments, began to come into the neighborhood at night and steal the pet cats.

It was very strange because the neighborhood was not rural in nature - it was a dense, tract-home neighborhood typical of California.

Although coyotes should not attack adult humans (unless rabid or otherwise sick, as noted before), they will attack and kill small animals like cats and even small dogs � for food. Coyotes have also been found to "pack up" at times to attack larger animals, like sheep.

So, I would recommend that if you have small animals, you might want to keep them inside the house or under close supervision outside if you know you have coyotes nearby.

If they start to come into your yard during the day, or something strange like that, you can probably call an agency like the Fish and Game department (depending on what they have in your state), and perhaps they could relocate them, or at least check to make sure they're not sick.

I have to share one story I heard that is so bizarre to me . . . It was told by a coyote expert on his website. Supposedly a woman found a stray dog at the side of the road and took him home to join her other numerous dogs. (I think she had at least four, heaven help her). The stray got along great with all the other dogs and all humans. But the first time they took it to the vet, the vet freaked out and said it wasn't a dog - it was a coyote!

Apparently the vet told her not to let too many people see the "dog," because it could be taken away from her because it was a wild animal.

Anyway, I guess it goes to show they can be very nice, too!

P.S. - I love camping and hiking, and I just found out I now live in a state where there are LOOSE GRIZZLIES. I'm unimpressed, and a little terrified. (Bring on the coyotes!!) <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

It's WAY past my bedtime, but I had to post a reply. I want to thank you Chris for the belly laugh. Your description of "LOOSE GRIZZLIES" is what I laughed at.

I live in Alaska, and Grizzly or Brown Bear are very common here. I have seen many and been as close as about 100 yards from one. To us, Grizzlies are a normal part of the wildlife, and they are all "LOOSE".

Don't get me wrong, I have a very healthy respect for them. I practice encounter prevention even when I take a walk down the street from my home. Yes, they are seen even in neighbors back yards.

Thanks for the laugh. BTW. where do you live?

Rose