Coyotes

[jsb2dc]

OK, so what does everyone know about coyotes? I know that they are nocturnal predators but not much more. I have liked getting out for a quick solo night ride, but those days might be over.

I was up at Fort Rock tonight and heard a coyote call out (twice) pretty close by as I was riding along. Being alone and figuring that coyotes usually aren't (being pack animals) I headed out right away. I was pretty spooked.

So, any info?

[gnurider1080]

well whenever ive seen a coyote its been alone. so i dont know if you have to worry too much because you can just avoid the one coyote on your bike if it actually tries to attack you.

[Quo Fan]

From what I understand, coyotes like to move on paths, that's why they are always seen in yards, because they view them as paths. The animals tend to be solitary (I think). Generally, they tend to be scavengers and attack smaller animals.

[PutAwayWet]

On the contrary, we've been having coyotes frequent the woods behind my folks' place. They actually wake people up with their howling at night there's so many of them. I'm not sure about their hunting/stalking practices except that they ate my brother's ducks and some of my mom's chickens when I was younger. My advise would be to not wear feathers on the trail, try not to quack or cluck too loudly.

Seriously though, remember that you have the light, not them. That will spook them a bit. Also, if you see them encroach on you (highly unlikely), stop, raise your bike over your head to make yourself look bigger, and tell them to go *$@# themselves, you're not a bird. They're not big dogs, like wolves, so you should be fine.

If this doesn't work, you've probably encountered a pack of coyotes that was mutated by eating too much KFC. In this case, ride as fast as you can screaming "The dingos ate my baby!!!! Now the Coyotes want me!!!!" It's a little known fact that mutant coyotes are actually improv comedy fans, and even a poor attempt like this will at least let them know how bad you'll taste and cause them to give up chase.

[nhiker]

While hiking and riding I have seen them on several occasions. While riding in hollis I have had one about the size of a germman shepard run out in front of me on the trail. He turned and saw me and bolted into the woods. Typically the tend to be smaller than that. They are all over the place I have seen them in Nashua in Yudicky and in my own Nieghborhood. They are allways more concerned with you than you of them. There is no recorded attack of Coyotes on Man in North America that I am aware of. That said If I encountered a group or a pack of them and they will travel in packs at times I would be..concerned :). I go riding in areas the are living by myself all the time and I would say they really are not an issue to an adult human. You are several rungs up on them on the food chain. 8)
Imagine if we had mountain lions or wolves back in this area. ::)

[bob24250]

I've encountered coyotes quite a few times, however, not around here. They are like any other wild animal. Don't get between them and their young or a meal, and don't corner them and, generally, they will leave you alone. You are too big of a target and too much trouble. They tend to hunt smaller animals such as rabbits, birds etc. The do tend to be alone in the woods, but you can bet close by there are several more. They are scavenger hunters, when I hunted them I used a tape that has sounds of an injured rabbit on it to lure them in. And white light will scare them too.

I carry one of the small sprays used on dogs on my pack. If you are attacked go straight for the nose and the eyes.

[Luckybikes]

I grew upw ith coyotes in my back yard. Most of the time when u meet one there more scared fo u thne u are scared of them so just relax and enjoy the ride

[sizlinseagulsoup]

Coyotes are pack animals. A group of them just ate one of my cats!!!! >:(

[Rych]

Cats Kevin? Now I know you’re a democrat. A coyote den was found in the woods near my house last year. There was a pile of cat collars nearby. If attacked by a dog or I imagine a coyote, and there is no escaping. Try to get both of your hands inside of their mouth. Then separate lower jaw from muzzle.

[sizlinseagulsoup]

Generally the packs move when they eat all the cats in the area. That has happened in my "neighborhood" before. (I quote neighborhood for a reason, if you have ever been to Chesterfield, you would know why).

And yes, Cat's rule.

[talisman]

I live in an area with lots of coyotes and see them from time to time. Usaully the coyotes will run away as soon as they see or smell me, but there have been a couple of occaisions when when I saw a lone coyote who just sat and stared as I rode along. Not seeing the coyote run away, is a little eerie as this is the expected response.

In my area lots of outdoor cats and small dogs were 'missing' when the coyotes first came around. Typically no trace of the animal was found or just a patch of fur. I have heard the coyote typically just grabs game by the head and goes.

[Slider]

My own cats don't go out unless I am watching them. The local coyote has put on a few pounds since I first saw him. Eating well on cat, racoon and fawn, would be my guess.

So Kevin - Chesterfield, eh? We ought to ride Westwoods sometime. It is a bit of a drive for me, coming from Ashford, but worth every mile.

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[johnbryanpeters]

I have been living with coyotes and keeping cats in Vermont for thirty years or so. Might have lost one or two cats. I have met coyotes in the woods a couple of times and don't regard them as a threat. Based on their hollering at night, I think they hang out in packs, but I have never seen more than one at a time.

The sound's neat, like someone let loose the inmated of a kiddie mental institution.

Met a bobcat once, face to face at twenty feet or so, it skedaddled when it figured out what I was.

J

[sizlinseagulsoup]

Westwoods? Eh? Maybe we have our states mixed up. I'm in MASS.

[iceman]

My son and I had and interesting run in though not with a coyote. Last month we met a Fisher cat on the trail, funny critter, but I'm thinking it would be bad to have one mad at you. :o

[MTBME]

Is it unusual to see fisher cats during the day? Lots of cats missing in my neighborhood, I still have two, but I'm thinking fisher cats not coyotes. I heard a banshee like "scream" outside my window a month ago. It woke up everybody in the house.

[nhiker]

Hiking up on east mountain Pd. with a friend a couple years ago we had a Black Bear walk out in front of us. Now while I know that there has never been a documented attack on a human by a Black Bear in NH....This got my complete attention. The Bear however vanished into the woods like a puff of smoke when my companion said something brave like "Howdy Bear." This was a large one about 300-350 lbs.
Now this dosn't happen too often because they have awsome hearing I am told. On the other hand thier eyesite is supposedly nothing to right home about.

[iceman]

Is it unusual to see fisher cats during the day? Lots of cats missing in my neighborhood, I still have two, but I'm thinking fisher cats not coyotes. I heard a banshee like "scream" outside my window a month ago. It woke up everybody in the house.


I always thought that fisher cats were nocturnal but I guess heavy overcast and drizzle works too. either way it was cool.

[Slider]

A god-awful scream woke me up one night, and whatever made it was clearly enjoying its meal. A neighbor had told me about seeing a bobcat not far away, so I assumed that's what I was hearing. The noise was just like what you hear a cougar make in the old Western movies, a snarly kind of growl.

Do fisher cats make the same sort of sound? Haven't seen one nearby yet, though we did come across a dead one at the Snip, maybe 12 miles away from my home in Ashford, CT

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[PutAwayWet]

What you might have heard was a screech owl. Their call sounds like some poor woman or child getting eaten alive. I've been awaken a few times by one - the first time I about called 911 it sounded so much like a human scream. I don't think bobcats or fisher cats "scream". Unless of course, you have a death metal cat in your woods, in which case the scream would be accompanied by loud guitar riffs and double bass drums. ;D

[bob24250]

For those of you who have been loosing cats to the coyotes, use fox urine near your property lines. I know it sounds pretty gross, but you can buy it at Home Depot. A coyote will not share the same territory as a fox, so just put a few drops around your property. Do this every couple of days and the coyotes will not come around.

[nhiker]

What you might have heard was a screech owl. Their call sounds like some poor woman or child getting eaten alive. I've been awaken a few times by one - the first time I about called 911 it sounded so much like a human scream. I don't think bobcats or fisher cats "scream". Unless of course, you have a death metal cat in your woods, in which case the scream would be accompanied by loud guitar riffs and double bass drums. ;D

Actually Bobcats do snarl and scream I have seen this own film. Also when as a kid in NH we had one around our house before all the developement they would call out loudly but I thought it was a mating thing. Bobcats are cats and do make cat noises. Fishcats aren't cats they are actually weasels and don't typically make loud noises. I have heard they will squeal out loudly if trapped or injured.

[Slider]

What I heard sounded too throaty, too resonant, for what I would imagine a screech owl could produce. I think it would take a bigger chest cavity to get the kind of projection and overtones I was hearing. Could be wrong, of course...

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[guitarsark]

this fishercat is definitely nocturnal and in fact LOVES felines (not to eat though), especially to nap with ;D

[talisman]

I have heard fisher cats at night and their call is pretty creepy. I can't do it justice, but it sounds vaguely like a shrill "Nark" and doesn't sound like an owl. Fisher cats usually leave a lot of cat fur around in clumps if they have been snacking on your pet cat Puffles or Sooty.

While typically nocturnal, I have seen a fisher cat on an over cast day chasing a squirrel through the tree tops.

[iceman]

this fishercat is definitely nocturnal and in fact LOVES felines (not to eat though), especially to nap with ;D




the urge to "meow" is almost more than i can resist. ;)

[DEE]

I live in Hull an coyotes are a major issue here.. First of all they may howl at night.. but in the dark the mom prowls for food for the young.. generally alone. She will cower if you act as if your thorwing a rock at her and will retreat and not attack someone on a bike.
The most obvious time for them to be out and about is dawn or dusk... If you make any sort of noise they are usually afraid and run off.. I have a silly horn on my bike that squeeks...
They are pretty small no matter how loud their howl. I see them on a regular basis crossing the streets down here in the dawn hours as I leave for work..

[jsb2dc]

Fishers are actually great mimics and can sound like a baby crying or a woman screaming. I've also heard that they are pretty fearless and will attack people. I read a story of a woman who was chased into her house by one that did some damage to her door. Who knows if it was rabid or not though. Anyway, they aren't to be messed with from what I've heard.

[MTBME]

"The Fisher Cat, one of New Hampshire's most elusive animals, and a ferocious predators of small game. They are very fast on their feet and can turn on a dime. Few ever get the chance to see a fisher, mainly because they are nocturnal, but can be heard calling in the woodlands during their mating season. They have a chilling scream very much like that of high pitched child."

Here's a site with some good info and photos.

http://pws.prserv.net/rindge/fisher.html

[iceman]

fishercats behaviors aside they are a beautiful animal. man I wish I had my camera that day. :P

[jerseygirl]

My daughter is a coyote. She works at Coyote Ugly in Boston. Approach with caution.

[iceman]

My son has decided that every sound in the woods that doesn't look like a fishercat must be a coyote, since fishercats "meow"!! to be 6 again, I love being in the woods with him it is so educational.....LMAO!

[TrailBate]

damn, the coolest wildlife I've seen is a fox....although I had a large buck leap across my path one day... It's possible my old bike makes so much noise that animals hear me coming a mile away...
I heard one of those scary animal screams one night while camping. I didn't sleep much the rest of the night.
We have lots of coyotes in my area, and cats are always going missing. There are always telephone poles covered with "missing cat" signs. If I have a pen, i'll write on them, "eaten by coyote."

[iceman]

damn, the coolest wildlife I've seen is a fox....although I had a large buck leap across my path one day... It's possible my old bike makes so much noise that animals hear me coming a mile away...


I don't think the noise thing is a problem....have you ever rode in the woods with a six year old, comparitively speaking I bet your bike is just a whisper. lmao

[GarySZ]

I can now thank this thread for solving a mystery for me... was riding the other morning at just around dawn and saw a creature on the path ahead of me pause, look at me, and then dart... had never seen anything like it before (thought it was a cat first and then maybe an otter?) - I now know it was a Fisher Cat...

Interesting looking animal...

[MTBME]

Interesting is right. It looks like a small wolverine. There was a story in Sundays paper about a "vicious animal" that came out of the woods and attacked a doberman in its backyard in Maine. The doberman head was literally ripped open. I'm not exagerating here for effect. They had to put the dog down.

The owner got a glimpse of the animal and it has been described as a fisher cat. The owner is searching for the den in the woods as he has small children. Imagine taking out a doberman like that. That's an animal to be taken seriously.