Posted on 04/27/2011 10:46:47 AM PDT by altura
If a gun isn’t an option, wasp spray is great. Oil based and burns worse than pepper spray. It shoots out in a stream so less to come back on you.
Coyotes are very adaptable and are moving into the suburbs.
The answer is that she cannot walk alone where she is being stalked by wildlife. -Not unless she can handle a gun.
Oh, and being that this is Grapevine Texas, it probably would have been prudent to ask if this incident involved a four legged animal, or a smuggler of illegal aliens from Mexico.
I’d second ‘ol Mike’s idea.
While my first would be a gun, the second would be a good slingshot. Besides, you can set up a target in the back yard and have fun practicing.
Plus - most areas allow “open carry” of a slingshot.
And, having a GR myself, the curbsetters in the family will kill possums and take on any dogs. The GR peeks out from behind the sofa to make sure it’s OK to come out.
If a small sidearm is not an option, and even if it is, carrying a good sized, weighted walking stick would be a good idea.
Coyotes are generally cowards, pack oriented animals that will not approach unless it doesn’t sense a threat. A good walking stick will allow her to make a loud noise, make herself look bigger and aggressive, and will give her something to hit with if it comes near her.
A small sidearm would be ideal as it would give her the power she needs in case more than one coyote are present.
Also, make sure that the emotion she exudes is one of anger, not fear. Animals do sense emotions and if she is afraid, she looks like prey. If she is angry, she is protecting her puppy.
Be aware, don’t walk at or after dusk, carry a small side arm, a good walking stick, and become offended and angry at potential danger. That’s the best advice I can give in this case.
Ditto there.You stole what I was going to type.:-)
This is a serious issue. She should arm herself. For the protection of herself as well as her puppy.
My bull mastiff, as a juvenile, ran around a corner of the trail, only to come back with two coyotes hot on her heels ready to eat her. Me being there dissuaded them - but if there had been four - I think they would have proceeded to attempt a takedown despite me being there.
Great for women to carry if they work late at night as it sprays farther than pepper spray too, at least that’s what I’m told.
Don’t they have a pepper spray [concededly for bears] that goes 30 yards?
That doesn’t look like a .380 to me. LoL.
Give the girl a very loud whistle on a string necklace. Try one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Fox-40-Sonik-Whistle-Lanyard/dp/B003BL4VY6/ref=sr_1_45?ie=UTF8&qid=1303926959&sr=8-45
The National Park Rangers are advising hikers in Glacier National Park and other Rocky Mountain parks to be alert for bears and take extra precautions to avoid an encounter.
They advise park visitors to wear little bells on their clothes so they make noise when hiking. The bell noise allows bears to hear them coming from a distance and not be startled by a hiker accidentally sneaking up on them. This might cause a bear to charge.
Visitors should also carry a pepper spray can just in case a bear is encountered. Spraying the pepper into the air will irritate the bear’s sensitive nose and it will run away.
It is also a good idea to keep an eye out for fresh bear scat so you have an idea if bears are in the area. People should be able to recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear scat.
Black bear droppings are smaller and often contain berries, leaves, and possibly bits of fur. Grizzly bear droppings tend to contain small bells and smell of pepper.
Lead poisioning
1. Carry a spray bottle of ammonia and spray it at the coyote if it gets close (you can spray it on any critter, including humans, that might bother her). NOTHING likes to have ammonia sprayed in its face. (I have a small bottle of ammonia I've rigged on a a strap so I can sling it over my shoulder when I go on walks).
2. Throw rocks at the coyote as hard as possible.
3. If the critter is acting especially aggressive, in broad daylight ... consider rabies, though that's more with nocturnal critters like bobcats and skunks and racoons.
4. Perhaps if your daughter raised her arms above her head to make herself look bigger, it might give the coyote pause, as well.
Best of luck .. the BEST thing is for people to start shooting at the coyotes, and they will quickly learn to fear man and keep their distance. My mom, who grew up in farm and ranch country, said that if a coyote appeared a quarter of a mile away on a hillside, all she had to do was raise her arms as if she was going to fire a rifle at it, and the coyote would beat feet pronto.
Coyotes are clever critters unlike their cartoon caricatures. If the girl can’t handle a firearm, then she shouldn’t be walking alone. Next time there may be more than one coyote.
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