this evening i heard a coyote barking, just like a dog. before it started howling a bit, i was considering whistling or walking over in case there was a loose dog in distress. that is my sentiment to express how much it sounded like a domestic dog bark. I got a decent audio recording. there is a family/pack that lives in my neighborhood, frequently used yote trails going through the woods next to my house, and while exploring i believe i found a potential den of theirs about 1/3 mile from my house. I am used to them and their songs, but have NEVER heard a bark like this. it sounded agitated, like it was calling for back up or help. to be honest it sounded kind of desperate, and it went on barking for over 5 minutes straight, with only a few yips and howls the whole time.

Not the best picture. We were taxing but in a Cessna caravan pretty fast. Crazy how adaptable. If you haven’t already read Coyote American by Dan Flores

Unfortunately, a couple of years ago. Two or four Coyote's jumped a chain link fence, and ate a Families pet dog. In very bright daylight. The pack was eventually hunted down and eliminated. I was more upset about the Coyotes, that the dog. Farmers have taken out 99% of the big fence line around here, thus most small animals have moved out too. So the Coyotes food source has dried up. So what are they going to do?

Just noticed this guy noticing me. He stuck around long enough for me to run in and grab a camera.

This is in a suburb of Boston about 5 miles from downtown

Hi – I live in southern Ontario (Hamilton, specifically) near an escarpment and in a neighbourhood with lots of rabbits, squirrels, skunks, etc. Also, coyotes.

I was walking my dog (8-9lb terrier) tonight at around 10:30pm, and she was on a leash, the leash was wrapped around my hand a couple times, and I was staring ahead as we strolled (my point being that I wasn’t on my phone/distracted). 

All of a sudden, this thing just… appears. A coyote had come from somewhere on my left, I guess, and in hindsight I guess it ran or leapt toward us, and stopped about 10 feet away. I was surprised and frightened, and jumped in response.

My dog is a ratter, and loves to go crazy chasing and barking at rabbits, squirrels, etc. She was staring at it, but was completely silent. I guess her dog brain for once told her to have some sense – it was insanely unusual for her.

The coyote just looked at us, and it felt like it was testing us. I continued to walk in the direction we were headed, but I know you’re not supposed to run or turn your back, so I compromised with a kind of sideways walk. It took a step toward us, then looked away, looked back, kept staring, and then strutted off in the opposite direction.

I know that I should have made myself big and loud, but it was just so close that I didn’t want to risk provoking it. It also seemed as though it had been focused on my dog, and stopped because of me (it froze when I jumped), but surely it saw me beforehand… I don’t know.

I don’t really know why I’m writing this, it’s just that it’s been four hours and I’ve been replaying this in my head on a loop. I can’t believe how close it came. If it was just me walking, I wouldn’t be so concerned, but the thought of my dog getting snatched away (even though she was leashed – there have been a few horror stories in Ontario) is devastating.

I have bear spray that I’m going to start bringing with us on walks. Now that the sun sets at 5:00pm, daytime-only walks aren’t really an option. I was thinking of getting an airhorn, and also maybe one of those anti-coyote things with the spikes for my dog to wear.

But why did it come so close? Should I still have made myself big and loud, when it was only 10+ feet away? I didn’t want to bend down or take my eyes off the coyote, but should I have picked up my dog? How confident can I be that my dog will be safe as long as I’m with her? Was it testing us or was it just curious?

I do know that nobody is able to read the mind of this particular coyote, that nobody else was there to witness its body language/behaviour, and that my questions might be pointless to ask, it’s just… This encounter genuinely terrified me, I can’t stop replaying it (Because how did it just appear out of nowhere? Is it that stealthy or am I actually totally unaware of my surroundings?), and I guess I just needed to vent. Any kind and/or educational words welcome – TIA!

so my cat was heard sounding like she was hissing or yelping outside of my house, naturally i go outside to check it with a flashlight. as i scanned my back yard with the light i caught the eye shine of an animal, too tall to be a cat, too short to be a deer (unless it was 3 fawns?) and it didn’t move, just stayed put, as i went back into the house to revauluate, they eyes seemed to move farther back into the woods, as i approached the wood line, i was met with an additional 2-3 pairs of eyes. all the same pale ish green color and also very close together. it was odd to me that none of them ran away. they seemed to stalkishly move to my left all except for one. i live in northern ohio so there is no wolves, but definitely coyotes, im simply trying to get someone who knows more about these animals than i do to give me some clarification or insight as obviously this rattled me.

(EDIT): The cat did live, just curious if it was coyotes as there are some in the area but typically around my house

This big guy hopped the fence and was walking around my backyard

I keep finding poop in my fenced yard (in Florida). The poop is quite large. My kids play back here. Is there a way to make this a less desirable place to poop for them?