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One thing to remember is that coyotes can carry rabies which can infect dogs, cats and people. I used to work for a company located in a place called Coyote Valley. Every so often company security would have to dispatch a rabid coyote when they started hanging around the company buildings. One guy actually got bit by a coyote when he was riding his bicycle and the animal decided to snatch his lunch out of his hands. Fortunately, it was not rabid, so he didn't have to get the rabies shots.

...so should we start the report that you carry a .380 these days for protection???
"...I think I would 'Perry' the coyote."

...any wild animal showing no fear of humans should be suspected of being rabid...and the more we build into their habitat...the more will be amongst us...

speedsix wrote:and "the po-lice tol' me to" is NOT a legal defense...

Actually, it can be.

Edit: Not that I'd promote this as an alternative to knowing and following the law.

I live in Downtown Ft. Worth and we have just started hearing them on the west side levees at night. I would say what is "Good for the Gov. is Good for the Gander", so I would not hesitate to shoot if threatened.

Keith B wrote:

03Lightningrocks wrote:Many interesting responses. My odds of actually spotting a coyote are small as I am not out wondering around much at night but I sure would enjoy blasting a few of the creatures. I feel bad for the folks who had to see their family pet mutilated like that. Truthfully, folks should not let the pets roam around free, but it is still sad. I guess the Coyotes are just being... Coyotes.

I don't live far from 03Lightningrocks (about 2 miles as the crow flies or the coyote runs ), and I have frequently seen coyotes running across the road close to the creek that runs through both our neighborhood areas. They are mainly out at night or late evening/early morning, but I have seen them in broad daylight. When I first moved to my neighborhood, there were no houses in behind mine and it was all open fields down to the creek. At night you would hear the coyotes running the creek and yelping as they chased prey, usually rabbits or rats/mice.

If I witnessed and attack on a domesticated animal, I would shoot the coyote as it would be considered a safety issue. However, I have never seen one being aggressive in the neighborhood, but have heard stories by neighbors about them walking their dogs and being 'watched closely' by coyote's. If that happened to me, I think I would 'Perry' the coyote.

It is probably the same creek. Around 15 years ago my daughter had a Dalmatian that could climb over our 8 foot high wood fence and run off. My daughter and I were out one night, after he jumped the fence, driving the neighborhood looking for him. My daughter looked over toward the creek/wooded area and proclaimed she thought she saw eyes looking at us. I looked in that direction and immediately saw many pairs of eyes and a few outlines in the darkness that could only be coyotes. Without thinking I said, "No, thats not Champ, those are coyotes." (yeah... dumb, but I was not thinking past trying to find her dog). Well she was thinking because she started crying as she ask, "Are they going to hurt Champ?". I lied like the devil and told her that Champ was big enough that he could whip a coyote. We found that dumb dog at the pound the next day, but not until after spending the whole night wondering if those coyotes might have gotten him.

We use to have cute little bunny rabbits all over the place around here. One use to hang out in my yard and watch me grille. I would throw him carrots and stuff. That rabbit had no fear...LOL. I have not seen a rabbit around my house in months and didn't think about it until this email. I bet the rabbit population is down and the coyotes are looking for a new food source. Fluffy the cat and dogs like those cute little Pomeranian make great substitutes.

muleman,

You are exactly right. Shoot to stop an attack, but it isn't wise to imagine that shooting any number of predators will end predatory behavior.

I understand the desire to eliminate the threat, but there will always be more born than you can dispatch. I have two stuffed bobcats in the closet, shot within 30 yards of my backdoor, who took out two of my cats (15-16 years ago).

The back yard is now enclosed with a 6-foot chain-link fence 100' x 150' with some woods inside for the cats to enjoy, and an electric cattle fence hot wire on insulators near the top, on the outside, to keep things from climbing in. We keep an eye on the ground-level perimeter - if I had it to do over, I'd pour a concrete curb under the fence line.

The cats play outside during the day but they are indoors at night. So is the dog. We hear the coyotes many nights - they are real close - and there is no way to "get" them all. One needs to learn to live with one's environment. You don't leave a wad of cash sitting on the seat of your unlocked car, it will disappear. So you don't let your small animals run loose unless you don't care if they disappear.

We have never lost a calf to coyotes or wild dogs. My neighbor claims that feral dogs are more likely to run cattle and take a calf than coyotes are, but coyotes take the rap. I don't know if he is right, but he's been raising cattle for more than 50 years (he's in his late 80s, talking to him makes me feel like a kid).

</rambling>

On an added not when the city starts having Coyote problems it is normally because the city has intruded on what used to be their home. Just Saying....

Well, it may be due in part to us encroaching on their habitat, but coyotes also thrive around people--there are supposed to be more in the US now then there were when Columbus landed.

TxBlonde wrote:On an added not when the city starts having Coyote problems it is normally because the city has intruded on what used to be their home. Just Saying....

In this case, the intrusion was around 25-30 years ago.

hirundo82 wrote:Well, it may be due in part to us encroaching on their habitat, but coyotes also thrive aroung people--there are supposed to be more in the US now then there were when Columbus landed.

What he said!

03Lightningrocks wrote:

hirundo82 wrote:Well, it may be due in part to us encroaching on their habitat, but coyotes also thrive around people--there are supposed to be more in the US now then there were when Columbus landed.

What he said!

Lots of easy food for them around human habitation--garbage, pets, etc.

03Lightningrocks wrote:Plano is not out in the country... BTW. We are surrounded by other cities. These coyotes are coming out of a "greenbelt area" along the creek near my house. Please share if anyone knows if I can blast them in self defense.

It is legal to defend yourself if it is truly a self defense situation. It is not legal to shoot at a coyote that is jogging through a greenbelt.

gringogigante wrote:

03Lightningrocks wrote:Plano is not out in the country... BTW. We are surrounded by other cities. These coyotes are coming out of a "greenbelt area" along the creek near my house. Please share if anyone knows if I can blast them in self defense.

It is legal to defend yourself if it is truly a self defense situation. It is not legal to shoot at a coyote that is jogging through a greenbelt.

Oh darn... so I can't shoot at them from my upstairs windows? Now I have to go pick up that rotten meat I left at the tree line!

03Lightningrocks wrote:

gringogigante wrote:

03Lightningrocks wrote:Plano is not out in the country... BTW. We are surrounded by other cities. These coyotes are coming out of a "greenbelt area" along the creek near my house. Please share if anyone knows if I can blast them in self defense.

It is legal to defend yourself if it is truly a self defense situation. It is not legal to shoot at a coyote that is jogging through a greenbelt.

Oh darn... so I can't shoot at them from my upstairs windows? Now I have to go pick up that rotten meat I left at the tree line!

I think he was referring to the two-legged variety!

...if you do , I'd do it quietly...