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.''
Never thought of that. I don't have problems with the coyotes here, they eat (usually varmints or small livestock) what they can and move on for the most part. Timber Wolves are a whole different subject. You Northerners get all the big stuff, (the first time my Dad, from Michigan, saw a southern deer, he wondered why you would shoot one....to small). I apologize for second guessing your wood lore.
No prob. We have some big critters here, moose and bears although the black bears are not as big as the giants of the West. A friend shot a 400 pound bear this year. The bucks do get big, huge. I remember mule deer out west being big but some around here are really hefty.
8mm
The general rule is that it is always permitted unless caught. Concealed means just that, and if necessary to unconceal, legal or not, then do what's necessary, and screw the consequences.
That's my feelings too, but I keep hearing from people that coyotes are here. I don't know anyone who has seen them themselves, it's always someone told someone they knew that someone had a brother who knew a fella........ well you get the picture.
But.... I am keeping an open mind about coyotes in the center of Houston even tho I don't hear them howl.
In Mitt Romney land the citizens couldn't defend theirselves or their family with weapons. They had to wait until their betters arrived a long time later.
The miracle is that there is a man left in Romneyland who could take on a small doglike creature.
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