Question for rural/suburban moms regarding dangerous wildlife - Page 2

[MusicianDad]

We get coyotes around here often, and to be honest, they are the least of our worries. You're right about them being scared off easily, and they generally don't wander around neighbourhoods during the day.

Just follow basic guidelines for not attracting wild animals and there should be very few, if any, problems. No food left outside, garbage locked up tight in an animal proof container or in the garage, etc.

I agree with others about having your DH research coyotes and brushing up on gun safety. Hanging out with a loaded weapon is much more of a threat to you and your children than a wandering coyote.

P.S. We also live in an area where you don't have to have vast amounts of land to meet larger wild animals. We have coyotes where we live and most people here don't even have an acre of land. In Vancouver it's not unusual to find bears, wolves and on rare occasions even cougars in very similar neighbourhoods to ours. Really, looking at these places you wouldn't think you'd find anything larger than a racoon wandering around (those almost have control of the area BTW).

[hildare]

would getting your family a larger, protective breed of dog be an option for you?

[AllyRae]

My kids go outside all the time, and we'll even have bonfires or walks at night. We have coyotes that live right along our back fenceline and have seen one come out during the day (it was dusk). The day it came out, it walked within 20 feet of our toddler. I don't think I've ever screamed louder in my life. The thing took off running (and didn't even notice our 14 lb dog chasing it. : ). They really won't mess with you unless there is something wrong with it. Other than that one time, I've never seen one out during the day. We do hear the little young ones fighting next to our fence at night though. :

At night, the kids are always out with an adult (and the dog is only out for a couple minutes at a time), but during the day, we're not too worried about it. Like I said, one time in over 6 months we happened to see a coyote during the day, and it ran away as soon as I yelled.

[AllyRae]

I do want to mention that coyotes even live in the city. There have been reports of coyotes in big city parks too. They really live everywhere.

We also go to our large metroparks and I'll walk through the woods there with my three kids when DH is at work--there are likely foxes, coyotes, snakes, you name it in the woods and we don't really stop going in there. We just remember that we're on their turf, and we need to be respectful, but not afraid.

[AllyRae]

Originally Posted by Drummer's Wife

We have coyotes here, too, and they don't really scare me. Carrying a gun isn't on my radar - we don't even own one. Coyotes, IME, usually come out at night when it's dark - which is not when the kids are playing outside. The few times we've seen coyotes in daylight, they are easily scared off as soon as they see us. We don't live near as rural as you, but I don't think I'd be overly concerned. Do you have a fence so the kids could at least play in the backyard w/o worry?

Coyotes jump fences, and they are good at climbing. We only have a 4' fence (we own an acre and have the backyard fenced) but we didn't put the fence up with any illusions of stopping the coyotes. They have been known to climb 6' tall fences before. So, unless you use the special attachments on a fence that they make to keep coyotes from climbing it, that will be a false sense of security for sure.

[GardenStream]

My kids are 2 and 4. I send them outside alone all the time. We're in Ohio and coyotes are the only dangerous wildlife I can think of around here. We have 8 acres. We're bordered on the back by woods, the sides are fields, and the front is someone else's back yard. We have one of those lots that has a 1/4 mile driveway just to get back to our property.

I never worry about the kids being outside. Actually, I think they're safer outside than inside most of the time.

[Alyantavid]

We have coyotes, but that's as big as predators get around here. And they've never come near our house. We do have a big dog so I don't worry too much about my kids being outside. I've never seen one around my house, but we hear them at night alot.

I don't have any advice about easing your dh's fears. I'd definitely take some gun safety classes if you have guns and haven't taken one. And find some info on coyotes from your local forest service (or whatever government office you have nearby). Stay outside with your kids and really you should be fine.

[Joyster]

Small kids with adults should be fine. They can be brazen creatures, but it's pretty rare. I know on my friend's street, one came up behind a dog owner and grabbed her puppy, but I've found that they're usually only really cheeky when smaller animals are around.

[cschick]

We have coyotes (suburban). At night they come up to the pond directly across the street from our house, they've also fought in our backyard. In five years, I have NEVER seen a coyote during daylight hours. They tend to be around the pond at 9pm in the evening, roaming in our backyards about midnight.

You're being stupid around here if you put your dog out alone, at night, especially if they're a small, tasty nugget of a dog. That's about the only worry anyone around here has about coyotes.

[ollyoxenfree]

We live in a suburban area but there is a lot of green space. There is a golf course a block away with coyote and re-forested parkland two blocks in the other direction with coyote and fox. They are actually connected by a creek. I have seen coyote and fox during the day. I've never been concerned because they always run. If I had small children I'd supervise carefully, but I'd do that anyway. I'd also teach them safety procedures with wildlife from a young age.

At our cottage, there are bears but again, they usually run. We're pretty careful about discouraging bears on our property (garbage control, cleaning up the BBQ etc.), but it's inevitable that they will be in the area. I've never felt the need for a gun. I'm more concerned about the hunters actually, and frustrated because I feel we can't enjoy the woods because of them. Last time we were there, DH had a pretty good scare when he was out hiking and someone took some shots.

[Peony]

We have coyotes, I worry more about neighborhood dogs running loose then I do about them! I do however worry about mountain lions and bears, both of which are active in our area. We didn't have reports of lions this summer but the summer before one was spotted multiple times behind our house. Bears come by the house almost nightly during some parts of the year because of neighbors that keep things around their house that attract them. I do let my children play outside alone, my rule is that they must be together, if one is alone then I am out there as well. But no guns! At dusk, an adult must be outside. We take family walks and we do it before dusk during prime bear season and I avoid running at night during that time as well. When DH hikes in the backcountry, like 15 miles from a person, I do make him carry bear spray.

[BarnMomma]

Originally Posted by LynnS6

Let me get this straight... your dh wants you to carry a loaded rifle around two small children so that you can then drop your infant, raise the rifle, sight it and shoot at a moving coyote? I think the chances of your accidentally shooting a moving child would be way higher. Why did he want to move to the country again?

I second everyone else's suggestions:
-Get your husband to research coyotes. He'll find they're not that dangerous.
-Don't leave your baby in a field and wander off
-Get a dog -- preferably a nice big cheerful one like a lab mix or a sheep dog (just make sure they get lots of exercise)

To that I'd add:
-Take gun safety classes if you haven't. If you have, send him back for a refresher.
-Buy a whistle or carry a cell phone.

My husband is not a bumbling idiot as you seem to describe him here. And not that I need to explain myself to you, but he wants to live in the country for many reasons and having concern over wildlife does not negate those reasons.

If you read my original post-did you?- we JUST moved from a town where coyotes were attacking kids and adults. (Go google Rye Brook, NY.) The one that attacked the 2 yr old happened 4 doors down 5 days after we moved. So his experience with coyotes is that they ARE agressive. Wouldn't your opinion be the same if that was your only experience?

My husband and I are both quite comfortable with guns, thank you very much and very responsible owners. And when we go upstate to our very-country second house- the rule of thumb (as advised by locals) is to carry if you hike in the woods. And so we have in the past. A friend of ours up there just loves to tell the story of how his 9 yr got off the bus walked up the dirt road to her house with a mountain lion 20 feet behind her stalking. Somy husbands suggestion isn't all that crazy.

So now that we are living in the country full time I thought I'd ask how other moms with kids(ours are 3 and 3 mo) handle the critters.

And yes-a dog is on the to-do list.

[Chicky2]

I wanted to post more now that I have more time. Even though I don't constantly worry about coyotes and my kids (because what kind of life would it be to constantly worry?) we DID have a neighbor who was attacked in her yard by one. So yeah, I totally get why your dh would wish for you to carry. The day I took off after one w/a pick axe, I would have MUCH rather had my gun, but when I went to grab it off it's pegs over the door, the bolt broke and the handle fell off. So yeah, pick axe it was. When we are out in the woods we often have at least a shotgun w/us. The kids have a limited amount of time they can play out there (and again, HAVE to have BOTH dogs with them) before I am yelling at them (they have to be in yelling/hearing distance or they are in big trouble, btw) to check on them.

We have spotted a cougar more than once out here, and my dh shot a bobcat who had one of our guineas in it's mouth. Just part of country life, if you ask me! Who really knows what else is out there, even in our rather small neck of the woods.

Do whatever makes you feel comfortable, and still lets you and your kids feel like you can enjoy your land.

BTW, at my midwife's office there is a great pic of a pioneer woman w/a babe in one arm and a shotgun in the other. A mama's gotta do what a mama's gotta do.

[BarnMomma]

Originally Posted by Chicky2

I wanted to post more now that I have more time. Even though I don't constantly worry about coyotes and my kids (because what kind of life would it be to constantly worry?) we DID have a neighbor who was attacked in her yard by one. So yeah, I totally get why your dh would wish for you to carry. The day I took off after one w/a pick axe, I would have MUCH rather had my gun, but when I went to grab it off it's pegs over the door, the bolt broke and the handle fell off. So yeah, pick axe it was. When we are out in the woods we often have at least a shotgun w/us. The kids have a limited amount of time they can play out there (and again, HAVE to have BOTH dogs with them) before I am yelling at them (they have to be in yelling/hearing distance or they are in big trouble, btw) to check on them.

We have spotted a cougar more than once out here, and my dh shot a bobcat who had one of our guineas in it's mouth. Just part of country life, if you ask me! Who really knows what else is out there, even in our rather small neck of the woods.

Do whatever makes you feel comfortable, and still lets you and your kids feel like you can enjoy your land.

BTW, at my midwife's office there is a great pic of a pioneer woman w/a babe in one arm and a shotgun in the other. A mama's gotta do what a mama's gotta do.

Can I PM you about the guineas?? We so want them for tick control!

[Chicky2]

absolutely!

[Breathless Wonder]

Originally Posted by BarnMomma

If you read my original post-did you?- we JUST moved from a town where coyotes were attacking kids and adults. (Go google Rye Brook, NY.) The one that attacked the 2 yr old happened 4 doors down 5 days after we moved. So his experience with coyotes is that they ARE agressive. Wouldn't your opinion be the same if that was your only experience?

I just wanted to say the I figured you were in that area. But most people will tell you that the coyote attacks over the summer were a seriously rare phenomenon!

[peainthepod]

Originally Posted by Chicky2

BTW, at my midwife's office there is a great pic of a pioneer woman w/a babe in one arm and a shotgun in the other. A mama's gotta do what a mama's gotta do.

I've posted this before, but yeah, it's very doable to wear a gun and a child at the same time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJriDAhIIQs

[Bluegoat]

We have had a few coyotes attack people here recently. One young woman hiking was attacked by a group and killed. So, it can happen. I don't think it is something I would be paranoid about, but I would be aware of it.

I think it's worth noting that Eastern coyotes seem to be different than Western ones; they are larger, and show different behaviors, and show a greater portion of wolf genetic material.

I never carried a gun when I was rural, but I did have some ammunition for the shotgun set aside in the front of the safe in case our goats were attacked in the night.

I also always had at least one large dog, which I think is about the best plan. If I were to get a dog just for this, I might think about one of the sheep protecting breeds, though you might have to be careful about them becoming over-protective.

[AFWife]

Is there a wildlife expert or something you guys can go talk to? Maybe do a "safety class" or something? (You can get a few families together and do a potluck even) It might make your DH feel better to learn from a "professional" and hear something other than worst case scenario stories.

I grew up near mountains (Colorado) so dangerous wildlife was very real (a little boy got attacked and killed by a mountain lion when I was a kid) The basics they taught us:

- Don't wander off alone
- Carry a big stick
- Wear a bright jacket (if you lift it up and make yourself look big most things will back off)
- Carry a whistle or something else that makes a loud noise (to alert others)


The big one was: Don't be alone. (We were kids...small animals to big predators)