Coyote Attack

[fellowtraveller]

Probably because coyotes are disinclined to hunt in packs all that much, are basically pretty skittish, and prefer tiny game to large game... but that's been covered. It's an odd event. We are talking minute shades of inclination, not hyenas vs. kitty-cats.

You had mentioned possible crossbreeding with wolves as a cause of the attack, I wondered why there were no other known fatal attacks in the last 300 years or so of human habitation if that were the case.

I was hoping that you had some reasons for that belief, but oh well.

A two-letter typo.... but you knew that. (Or at least I hope you did.)

No, I would not have asked the question if I knew the answer.

'Adaption' has all the elements of a valid English verb, you could have made something up and I'd likely have thanked you.

[ToadBrother]

The migration/possible wolf crossbreeding took place long ago, why haven't there been many instances of coyote atacks on humans in Eastern Canada?

I have my doubts that there is much crossbreeding between dogs and coyotes in the wild, the normal reaction of coyotes to domestic dogs is sudden death for the dogs.

That's the normal reaction for wolves too, and yet it does happen. There is a natural gene flow between domestic dogs, wolves and coyotes, enough to assure that despite some not insubstantial behavioral differences (and in the case of coyotes, a rather different breeding cycle) that interfertility remains.

My understanding is that while, normally, wolves and coyotes will attack dogs, when you have a situation where the wolf or coyote is in great competition for mates, they will mate with each other and with dogs. So while not normal, it certainly happens.

And never discount another factor; people who intentionally breed wolves or coyotes with dogs. It doesn't happen so much here, but I have heard down the States some folks do it.

[Molly]

My apologies, then Fellowtraveller, for replying so snippily. Misreading your intent is not, in the end, much of an excuse for my bad manners.

I do hope you checked out that link I provided, though. The map on page 2. Maritime coyotes- Cape Breton coyotes- are very, very recent.

Edited October 29, 2009 by Molly

[GostHacked]

The only thing i can figure is maybe they are mating with domestic dogs breeding a different

species more wolf like.

Wolves, or coyotes who breed with dogs, the offspring can lose some of their skitishness. You get a hybrid animal that has the strenth and meanness of a wolf or coyote, without any of the skitishness.

She did one thing wrong. She traveled in a location alone that she was not familiar with. Those more than not, end up to be quite fatal. Even if you do know the are, travel with someone.

Fellowtraveler

You had mentioned possible crossbreeding with wolves as a cause of the attack, I wondered why there were no other known fatal attacks in the last 300 years or so of human habitation if that were the case.

I was hoping that you had some reasons for that belief, but oh well.

It seems to be quite rare in this day and age, and it would have been even more rare 300 years ago. But we as humans would have faced more than just a few rare attacks from hybrid wolf/dogs in the last 300 years. We are more detremental to ourselves than these hybrid animals are to us.

Wilber

Sad story but in reality one is probably hundreds of times more likely to be killed by a domestic dog than a coyote.

Agreed. Pitbulls seem to have quite the bad rep.

[wyly]

it's a freak occurance.....dogs are a million times a greater threat than coyotes and wolves

we always here of the dangers of Polar bears in the north and rightly so but my sister lived in Churchill Man. for a number of years and she said bears were a danger and you adjusted to them but in regards to her children she feared the packs of sled dogs far more...

[GostHacked]

it's a freak occurance.....dogs are a million times a greater threat than coyotes and wolves

we always here of the dangers of Polar bears in the north and rightly so but my sister lived in Churchill Man. for a number of years and she said bears were a danger and you adjusted to them but in regards to her children she feared the packs of sled dogs far more...

Lesson here is be careful and prepared when dealing with mother nature and her children.

[wulf42]

They have rangers looking and trying to hunt down one of the two Coyotes...!

When i used to hunt i always let people knew where i was and also carried a cell phone

i have seen only the one coyote didn t seem very mean to me..even biologist's can t figure this one

out. They where two young males so maybe it was a testerone thing one trying to prove he was the Alpha

over the other...people will certainly see them in a new light.

[PocketRocket]

The only thing i can figure is maybe they are mating with domestic dogs breeding a different

species more wolf like.

You may have hit the nail on the head with this.

Several years ago I went to this wildlife sanctuary/park/zoo near Gravenhurst. The guide was a knowledgeable young man who obviously loved what he did, and was quite a font of information.

Apparently coyotes do breed with dogs. The offspring always look very much like a coyote due to the strong genetics. They sometimes do not ACT like pure-blood coyotes, though.

Coyotes usually try to stay away from people. They stick to the periphery of any open areas they may be traversing, always ready to dive for cover.

Coy-dogs, as the mixed-breed offspring are known, while bearing an appearance pretty much identical to a pure-breed coyote, are generally more curious, less wary, and bolder. They are also becoming more common as time passes.

Keep in mind all of this is 2nd-hand info from a visit I had about 15 years ago. May not be totally accurate. I'll try find a supporting cite to post later.

[PocketRocket]

Well, had a couple more minutes to spare than I thought, found this almost immediately.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coydog

Wild coydogs and dogotes can cause problems for humans, as they allegedly have the infamous cunning of coyotes but lack their natural fear of humans.

Note the two different names. The first part of the name is related to the species of the father, ie; male coyote breeds with female dog=coydog. Male dog+female coyote=dogote.

[PocketRocket]

I have my doubts that there is much crossbreeding between dogs and coyotes in the wild, the normal reaction of coyotes to domestic dogs is sudden death for the dogs.

Not necessarily, as detailed in my previous post.

[ToadBrother]

Not necessarily, as detailed in my previous post.

I'd have to hunt down the citation, but as I recall genetic tests done on wild canid populations in North America showed a small but distinct gene flow between coyotes, wolves and domestic dogs (the latter two are now pretty much considered the same species). Whether this is because of forced human interventions or not isn't clear. Wolves and domestic dogs will breed where mating opportunities for male wolves are low, and as I recall, it's probably the major factor in any coyote-dog and coyote-wolf mating.

[wulf42]

Here is an updated article,some are saying eating human food might be causing them to lose

fear of humans...apparently poeple are feeding them...people forget they are not dogs.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1150175.html

[dlkenny]

Sad news to out of Cape Breton a woman was attacked by two Coyotes and she died

early this morning in Halifax, maybe it's time the Federal Government makes mandatory

to carry personal protection such as Bear spray while in National Parks! Seems wildlife

attacks are on the rise these days.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1149776.html

I don't think these incidents are on the rise, just the media reporting of it. You don't hear about it much because its very unusual for a coyote to kill a human. Bear spray though is just a really smart idea whenever or wherever you're hiking.

[wulf42]

I don't think these incidents are on the rise, just the media reporting of it. You don't hear about it much because its very unusual for a coyote to kill a human. Bear spray though is just a really smart idea whenever or wherever you're hiking.

Many hunters and hikers i know carry it......you never know they are wild animals and can turn on people

since we are driving the poor furry devils out of their habitat and into ours!

[Wilber]

Agreed. Pitbulls seem to have quite the bad rep.

Not just Pit Bulls, although they have been given a worse rep than other breeds. This is another dog kills human story. It is unusual only in that it was a wild dog of a breed not normally known to attack humans.

[Slim MacSquinty]

Here in Central Ontario coyotes have become quite a problem, as mentioned earlier they are not pure coyote anymore they are a coyote/ wolf hybrid. A full grown coyote now is the size of a small german shepard. They are pack animals and can be heard nightly around here as they yip and howl after a kill. Generally they seem to be packs of five up to about eight.

They have taken alot of rural cats, only saw one rabbit this year and take alot of small farm animals. They are not wary or humans but not particularly afraid. I encountered one last fall who ran about 30 feet, then stopped turned and looked me over then sauntered away. Last winter you could not find a dear track that did not have a coyote track behind. A couple of years ago I caught one trying to lure one of my dogs into a chase, of course the old dog would have been ambushed by the pack.

Pity the poor young, and apparently very talented women.

[Guest American Woman]

Pity the poor young, and apparently very talented women.

Agreed. It's very sad.

It's also scary reading about such incidents. I always used to walk in the woods totally free from fear, but now I do sometimes get a shiver of fear, along with the realization that where ever there are wild animals, there's the potential for an attack-- and this really proves it's true.

I do wonder what will happen as more and more wild animals seem to be losing their fear of humans. Someone mentioned people feeding them, which isn't a good idea, obviously, but even putting bird seed out attracts animals. I live in town and had a black bear in my yard last summer, and I'm thinking it was attracted by the bird seed.