A few weeks ago, the story below was in the Calgary Herald, separate incidents of a coyote(s) grabbing young children in Canmore, Alberta, which is about 40 minutes west of the city and in the mountains.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=2d61247b-2a3c-40e5-a156-4f730983726d&k=72298

It doesn't appear the culprit(s) have been found although a few local coyotes were caught and questioned (tested for rabies which means they lost their heads).

I agree with the general sentiment that it's a rare thing and unusual for coyotes to approach humans.

But those coyotes hanging in or around cities do seem bolder. Be alert, but you don't need to alter your lifestyle to avoid them.

On an adventurous sidenote, Abby and Keeper and I were hiking far down the shore of a lake south of us today and after about an hour and a half we halted for a rest and the turnaround. While standing there, I spotted a dot in the middle of the lake still further on, about two-thirds of a mile from us, and put the long lense on it.

Blowing up a few images via the camera, it appeared to be a wolf, bigger than a coyote (and I'd seen one of those running out of someone's yard in the country earlier today on the way back from the city), darker coat with a lighter mane, another giveaway. The aspect in the images kept changing so it was alert and looking around. I was looking over my shoulder on the way back but it remained where it was until we were out of sight.

That was a little fun.

We did have a wolf near our house a number of years ago. Very distinct, particularly the eyes.

Rick C
www.goldentales.ca

Rick,

Erie is where my husband and I keep our plane. It's a small airport. Very small. Anyway, My husband was out there a couple of weeks ago and there were quite a few people flying. Denny looked over at the runway and there was a coyote just walking down the runway all by himself. You would think the noise of the planes would keep them away?

Very strange stuff. I wonder if they are so hungry that it's making them aggressive with people too?

Vicki

Ironically, a few years back here in Cincinnati, the DNR did a "controlled release" of coyotes near a small airport about 3 miles from my house - the reason apparently was to keep birds and other wildlife off the runways (since those things can be hazardous to small prop planes and smaller jets)

Bearing that in mind, several months ago at sunrise, I happened to be working at one of my coffeehouses that looks onto the Ohio River. I saw an animal on the edge of the embankment and said to Brian "hey look at that deer..." then we were like "wait that's not a deer, that's a dog...." then it turned to the side and we both said "oh my gosh, that's a coyote!!!!"

The shape is unmistakeable. I couldn't believe that I was seeing a coyote in urban Cincinnati until someone told me about the airport's "controlled release". So much for controlling where they end up, eh?

You can bet I told my neighbors to be careful of their cats and small dogs...

Marianne

Rick,

Speaking of wolves, there was a story on the news last week about some women in Alaska. They were walking on some trails with their dogs and seven wolves surrounded them and wouldn't leave them alone. The women couldn't get rid of them and they had to walk backwards to their cars. When they got to their cars they jumped in them as fast as they could. One of the dogs got bit by one of the wolves but is ok. I'll see if I can find the story.

Vicki

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_ak_bold_wolves.html

Yes . . . . I actually saw that Alaska report earlier in the week. I don't think I'd be too happy about being surrounded by wolves. Too much like Jack London's "Call Of The Wild."

Below is a grainy, blown-up shot from this afternoon of what I think was a wolf, laying in the middle of the lake today. I could be wrong about that but it looked way too big to be a coyote I think. About two-thirds or three-quarters of a mile away, laying down, sunning itself and looking this way and that. Not sure if it saw us. Abby and Keeper didn't appear to notice it, even though they were staring right at it. Again, just a dot on the lake without the help of a 450 mm telephoto. And we would be vice-versa to it.



Below, on the way there . . . yon wolf is well ahead and around the corner. Mine are the only human footprints there and back. Aside from some fishermen who huddle at the dam where we start and an occasional boat passing in the summer, I've never seen another soul in all the years we've been walking here, one of our favourite dallying places, winter or summer.



More from today at www.goldentales.ca/new.htm if interested.

Rick C
www.goldentales.ca

Rick, lying down that does look like a wolf, but it almost appears too delicate in the shot where it's standing and walking. Years ago, Cody and I were stalked by a pair of coyotes on the other side of the creek, but if I wasn't as familiar with coyotes as I am, I would've sworn they were wolves. Much more full coated than a normal coyote, and a slightly different set to their heads. They didn't retreat from rocks thrown or voices raised, so a tree limb finally did the trick. I would not be happy being alone on an unused trail with a wolf lounging around Then again, apparently it's not all that safe at the San Francisco zoo, either

Hahaha . . . . the second picture is actually Keeper and, in the distance, Abby walking so you're right, too darned delicate to be a wolf. The wolf is still about a half hour walk down the lake in that picture.

For the interest of the thread, here's a picture of Canus Latrans, the common coyote, I took last Spring.



A coyote, generally, is about the size of Abby and Keeper. I know that because they've been, unfortunately, right beside each other before, through our fence.

Rick C
www.goldentales.ca

I've simply become afraid of bringing Faith anywhere I know there could be coyotes after reading the varying replies from my post a few weeks ago.

Maybe I'm just a paranoid Mom - people are telling me that coyotes will only attack smaller dogs and that a dog Faith's size would be safe....still, I'd be too nervous bringing her to the wooded area where I've been told there are coyotes.

Sign me - better safe than sorry.

Sandra & Faith

Same here Sandra. I rather not take the risk period.

Vicki