Daytime Coyote
 

We have a coyote that has made several daytime appearances. One in the early morning stalking baby deer. One running through the yard around 5:30 in the evening and the third just now around 2 in the afternoon. This time my kids were playing outside. My kids range in age from 5 to 13. When I saw the coyote I yelled for them to come inside - as they were running toward the house the coyote was running to where the kids were coming from (creek by the woods). I'm really surprised that he keeps coming back because we are living next to a really noisy interstate construction site. Will letting my big dog (Old English Sheepdog)run around outside deter a coyote? She weighs around a 100 pounds but she is very gentle with the kids so I don't know if she would be a fighter. There was a recent article in our paper about our particular coyotes in WV being a crossbreed with wolves so they are a little larger. I haven't heard of any local attacks on children or people but an internet search showed plenty around the country. The coyote doesn't seem scared of people at all -when we make noise instead of running it stops and looks at us.

I'd call wildlife management/animal control, it might be rabid.

IMO this one or two needs to be exterminated. To close to you and the kids. Not afraid of humans. I wouldn't sacrifice my dogs health for a mangy critter of that caliber.

Yup I would be pulling out the rifle...

I don't have much against coyotes, but you have a wild predator without fear running around where your kids and dog hang out. Something is wrong with that. Either disease like rabies or something, or just a desperate or unusually aggressive predator. Either way I would be rid of it pronto.

It's not like they are an endangered species.

Were it just me, no kids, no dogs, no livestock, I might look a little differently and check it out better.. but I'd not endanger those dear to me over the benefit of the coyote.

I don't know where in WV you are located. When he stops would be a good time for a well placed shot to end your worries.Do call the DNR and ask what can be done. Sam

Not uncommon at all for coyotes to hunt during the daytime. Up to you what to do about it, but sounds to me like a coyote being a coyote. If it is perusing deer I would guess it is fairly healthy.

I am also saying that it needs to be shot. It is common to see them just before or right at daybreak, or just after sunset, but any in between in the light are either sick or overly hungry. I would also be careful if you just have one dog, I have seen yotes around here plently big enough to take out any one of mine individually (they are all over 100 lbs), but mine run together so I don't worry about the dogs.

I have had them keep pace with me in the field, lie in the shade and watch me plow, etc. Had one take a lamb once with my DD on the other side of the fence. Daytime hunting doesn't mean anything unusual neccessarily. I would contact someone if you feel it is threatening.
Or use your personal extemination source.

Sounds just like a normal coyote to me. Your dog should be able to keep it away unless you have animals outside at night and your dog is inside.

Our midwestern coyotes only run about 30-35 lb but I've heard eastern coyotes are more like 60 lbs.

Yours are small then. I was sighting one up with my dogs after it this spring, it was at close to 50% bigger than any of my dogs, and they range from 95 to 120lbs. Thats why my dogs don't go out w/o myself or another dog.

I have heard that coyotes can cross with dogs gone wild. Sometimes they are then not scared of humans, making them that much more dangerous.

Not saying this is your case.

Either way I'd be bringing out the rifle.

Bang, problem solved

I agree with this. A few months ago a bright healthy nice big one trotted past us as we were crossing the overpass over I-5 in Portland. Yeah, no fear, you GO Coyote! It was the size of a husky(the big ones)

If there's one there's more.

Dont' send your dog out after it, coyotes will send a female in heat to go lure dogs, and the pack will kill them. Doesnt' matter if your dog is female or fixed, a female in heat is intriguing enough to distract a dog long enough to get jumped. If you have a pack of dogs that is better odds. Just saying how it happens around here.

I don't think I would do anything about it unless it was on my property harassng or killing my livestock. We have had them in the pasture next door or across the street in the woods numerous time and so far they have never come onto our property since we have good fence and large dogs.

If we shot a coyote every time it came around people and wasn't afraid, around these parts they'd soon all be dead, lol. Coyotes adapt very well to the urban/wild interface and so you can't assume a bold one has rabies. Indeed, that's highly UNlikely.

That said, they need to be discouraged from getting so bold around people. Younger, less experienced coyotes have been known to try to drag off a toddler now and then due to poor judgement and not rabies, lol.

Chuck a few rocks at him to run him off.

So just to clarify, you claim seeing a 150 to 180 pound coyote? That is far bigger than our gray wolves living here.

wow I tried to keep my mouth shut but there is alot of bad rumors on this post.
hope I don't upset to many ppl. but
Coyotes will hunt during the day, I've seen it several times, its no big deal just they got hungry during the daylight.
Eastern Coyotes are larger than western coyotes but in no way are there 100 lb yotes. if A "coyote" gets to 100 lbs its not a yote its a wolf. and I've trapped central/western kansas for coyotes and bobcats and although a fully furred yote can look big they aren't nowhere near 70 lbs, I've caught some that measured XXXL large and never had one over 55 lbs.

"coyotes will send a female in heat to go lure dogs" there's alot of misconception on this, a male coyote won't let a female in heat get away from him! what happens is a male dog smells the female in heat and don't care about wading into a pack of coyotes for his chance.

btw did you know coyotes live in New York City's central park? they are one of the most adapital animals around, its not uncommon for them to live in subdivisions, large parks, and anywhere else where they have food, water, shelter. many have adapated to live near interstates due to the amount of roadkill they can scavenge.

btw this is Chuck (the husband) my wife wanted me to clarify so you can't be mad at her,lol.

Well there are good coyotes and then there are bad coyotees...

I'm no coyote expert but I've been around them quite a bit. I used to mountain bike a lot (years) in the Arizona Desert. I can only remember one time that one would NOT leave the area I was in and, after talking to a park ranger about its behavior, figured it was very sick (probably rabid).

I wouldn't take any chances with one close to my little ones.

this is observed behavior in my area. People do NOT let their dogs roam loose or let them go after single coyotes or otherwise(at least the people who care about their dogs), and they know it's folly(ie will most likely end badly) for the dog to let them "chase off" a coyote. My main point was to not send your dog off to chase a coyote away--"around here" dogs get killed by coyotes.

And the yappy little dogs get snatched.

http://www.fundwildlife.org/coexist/coyotes.html

Mine have pups right now, so we are seeing them 24/7

And the only GOOD coyote is a dead coyote. The bad ones are just waiting to become "good" coyotes.

Yup, i agree.

Why Gercarson... How could you say such a thing!!! I just might take that personally. Ha ha... Here's the story. Our calicoty name comes from the combination of Calico & Coyote. I frequented an area (on my bike) in the desert where I would see the same coyote from time to time. I'm assuming by his calico coloration that he was the progeny of a coyote and a dog.

I would see him in a city park next to a residential area right next to the Aircraft "Boneyard" at Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson. One day he didn't make it across the road and I saw him dead on my way to work. Sad day for me. I liked seeing this little guy. BTW, he never stuck around and would always trot off if anyone was around.

Have a little fun and order a dozen snares from www.nwtrappers.com and maybe a cheap beginers book..............way easy to catch these critters. Then when the old lady is at church you crack their skulls with a ball bat................sweet

The sky is falling over a coyote. Sheesh. :grit:

Fence your yard or a portion of it for the children to play if you're afraid of them or your dog being harmed.

Coyotes eat rats and other critters. They're just part of nature.

I wouldn't say 180, but easly 150. I just caught the end of the first chase, and started calling my neighbors looking for a very large german shepard(they were about 200 yds away) when I saw it the first time. Two other people saw the chase through four diffent properties around me. Both said it was the biggest they have ever seen. One saw it from about 30 ft during a stare down between it and my three. I got a scope on it when I caught it stalking my lambs in the pasture the next day, the 22 didn't cause much other than a stumble(was out of rounds for the 243) when we went after it again. So YES 150+. Mixed yotes are getting pretty common around here. I now have a new neighbor that hunts them, so they are now the hunted.:hobbyhors

One was killed here 2 years ago that weighted 105 pounds. The DNR officer called it a Coydog. It was big and ugly and took 2 shots from a 243. Sam

Saw one today about 6 pm, ran across the lane for the cow pasture. Ours are small here also, but they can play heck on the poultry. They got three of my geese late winter, I never have a gun when I need it.>Thanks Marc

Nothing really unusual for them to hunt during the day - especially now when they would be raising their babies.

The "noisy" interstate construction site eventually becomes background noise for them - they just become used to it and it's "normal" noise for them. Much the same as deer will hang around a coal company sight - they become used to all the noise and since the coal operator's don't haress or hunt the deer, they feel safe - even though all that noise and activity is around them.

Coyotes are VERY adaptable. As for it not being afraid of you or your kids - it's probably been in the area so many times - when YOU haven't seen it - and it's not harassed or feels threatened - so it's just "normal" that it's become accustomed to you and your kids.

Unless you see it running towards you or your kids - as in straight at them - or watching them - as in looking for a meal - I wouldn't worry to much about it. Your dog should keep it away - or should at least protect your kids if it would get that close. (But I'm guessing it keeps it's safe distance. You and your kids aren't a hazard, but it's not going to "push" the issue either in trying to get closer.) You and your kids have just become "part of nature" to it.

I think it depends upon how the yotes have been acclimated to dogs. Around here folks run coyotes with hounds so they are extremely dog shy here.

No way. Largest coyote I ever got didn't break 65 lbs. You're letting your imagination play with with your reason.

Coyotes look a lot heavier than they weigh on a scale. I've trapped coyotes in MN, NM and CO and none was larger than 35 lbs.

Freind of mine sent me this after the incident.

http://i941.photobucket.com/albums/a...ch/coyote1.jpg

A game warden confirmed this was a yote. Wasn't in Kansas though.

heard on the news that teenagers were attacked by them..so i understand your concern..heard some yipping when i was sleeping the other night and got up and got our animals inside..,

Largest yote ever recorded was 74lb.

That thing you are calling a coyote with the deer was a NEUTERED wolf hybrid shot in PA, it was a loose pet or one that someone released.

There is no such thing as a 100lb coyote.

Around here we have coydogs. They have the worst qualities of both parents. They will walk into your barn and take lambs. My friends have put a couple of donkeys in with their sheep herd to keep the coydogs away. It works well.

No, they wouldn't all be dead, but they would not come around any more and would maintain a fear of humans.

yes, they outlawed running with dogs here--which ticked people off because then barking dogs DID keep away stuff like that, cougars etc.

They are dog shy in central Texas as well, and not seen in daylight much. They run in packs or singly at night and will kill a dog. They killed a dog my sister adopted from me that was 100+ lbs dog.

Bobcats and coyotes take a lot of animals around here, cats, small dogs, chickens, goats, sheep, etc. are all going to be taken at night if you don't get them inside or protect them.

There are bounties on coyotes in the area, last I heard about $25 a head. My grandfather worked as a security guard all night on a power plant site years ago during his retirement, he made a good sideline in coyote bounties.

Myself I have little against them, If I had no family or dogs or livestock I wouldn't worry about one hanging around. But kids, dogs, livestock etc are food in their eyes, that changes things.

Funny thing I learned recently in state law though, it's perfectly legal to keep a coyote in this state. Why one would want to I don't know, too skittish and fearful to be of much use.