Posted on 10/06/2005 12:18:57 PM PDT by billorites
A Northboro grandfather out for a hike yesterday tackled an attacking coyote to save his grandson's life.
The 76-year-old man was first attacked from behind by the wild animal and then put it in a choke hold when it lunged for his neck.
Police say Arthur Cole's bravery allowed his 4-year-old grandson to run to safety.
The boy then alerted family nearby. The boy told everyone ``a wolf'' got ``Grampy.''
Family members called 911 and they all descended upon the path along the Assabet River a quarter-mile away from the grandfather's home.
``We got there and found the guy on top of the animal,'' firefighter Jamie Desautels said. ``The guy basically saved his grandson.''
Firefighters used an animal snare to restrain the female coyote, which was still biting Cole, fire officials said.
``He stayed pretty calm; he did well,'' said Desautels. Police then killed the coyote.
``We basically choked the animal to death,'' Northboro Police Sgt. James Bruce said, adding they couldn't shoot the animal because Cole's arm was under the coyote's head.
The grandfather suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the 4:30 p.m. attack, according to police.
He was taken to Marlboro Hospital.
The dead coyote was taken to Tufts Veterinary School in Westboro for testing to determine whether it was rabid.
Cole, a lifelong Northboro resident and chairman of the town's trail committee, sustained about eight bites and needed some stitches, family members said.
``He is going to be fine,'' his son, Peter Cole, said.
``It was traumatic but we survived.''
Here, in the deep forests of SE Ohio, coyotes have interbred with feral dogs to produce what we call, "coyodogs." Some are as big as good sized german shepards and are avoided...or shot on the spot when possible.
Oice Grace could not have place a better 3 second chokehold.
Since the coyote was female, wonder if she offspring nearby.
I grew up on a citrus farm near a river in California. Coyotes were fairly common back then (60s). My folks still own that farm. Today, coyotes are really common now. When I was a teenager, my dad would give me $10 for every coyote tail I could bring him.
I earned a good bit of spending money during my high school years shooting coyotes in the riverbed. I hunted them with a .270 rifle and an 8 power scope. My strategy was to take a position in a tree overlooking the riverbed and wait, shortly before sundown. During the Summer, I had a couple of hours there where there was enough light to hunt.
Bang!
You are correct that the propholactic series is done in the arm. And I believe that the "booster" series is only on or two injections, after the initial series. Needless to say, my wife will never reach toward a stray kitty again. On the funny side, our children were 7, 8, and 3. When mom came out of the bathroom with toothpase foam on her mouth, I thought we would have to sedate our 7 year old. He was sure that there was a trip to the woodshed with a rifle.
I was just in a lite hearted mood.
I have lived on my current countryside estate for nearly 6 years now. In that time, I have killed 4 coyotes who decided to explore near my back yard where my kids play. I missed a 5th coyote who was preparing to see how my beagle dog would taste one evening.
They are getting very bold and aggressive in recent years.
Oh, boy, my wonderful but very wimpy Bayberry would have gone ballistic. You have a good mount there.
I can confirm that if you are bitten by an animal, and that animal is not captured, you will be strongly encouraged to undergo the vaccine. Even if the animal is captured later, and found to not be rabid by observation, or dissection, the vaccine series must start within hours. Once the series is started, it is carried out through completion. And at $1,300.00 plus office visits (not covered by any insurance), you may as well finish it.
I wonder how many posts before Grandpa is chided for not carrying a gun.
Gramps should've been packing.
33.
Gramps should carry his gun.
Coyote yipped and barked along side of us for about 50yrds, then backed off. I figured I was close to her den or pups
I had exactly the same thing happen a few months back. Heard this commotion, barking and yipping, I thought my dog was eating another dog. Walked down to take a look and a coyote was carrying on like mad at my dog, who apparently couldn't have cared less. The coyote keep it up until both me and my pooch left. I figured same as you, that she had pups nearby......
My daughter had to go through the treatment a couple years ago (raccoon bite). It wasn't pleasant for her but compared to how it used to be done when I was a kid (repeated big long needles into the abdominal muscle wall) the current treatment is far less painful. The doctors and nurses all confirmed this to us at the time.
LOL, you guys.
Go gramps! Great work!
Oooh, alliteration. Damn, I'm good. Hope the coyote wasn't rabid, but that's a real man right there.
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