Any tips on protecting yourself against wild animals?
I've been doing my power walks in the early morning hour, since it's been getting hot during the day with it being close to summer and all. I live in the suburbs so we don't have to much issues with wild animals except for rodents. But we have a lot of coyote packs in the area. I've ran into a pack of 3-5 german shepard sized coyotes about 8pm one night while out running with my dog, and I ran into a single coyote this morning when I was out about 6:30am. The coyotes didn't attack and weren't agressive, they just ran along side me and moved on, but should anything happen I want to be prepared as they are brave and run right next to you. I don't carry anything with me when I go out on my runs/walks except my ipod. I don't think i'd need any protection but with them being wild animals, you just never know.
So by chance do any of you have any tips of something that's small and easy enough for me to bring on my runs? All I can really think of is pepper spray, but I'm not sure if that would work against the coyotes. Thanks for the advice!
We get packs like that around here too. And the really awsome bike path that everyone uses to exercise runs right along the desert before cutting right into it for about a mile or so. So we see coyotes and snakes (in the morning) all the time. They don't get very close, they are really shy around here.
Pepper spray will work, but be sure you know how to use it so you don't mace yourself or your doggie if you're down wind.
How about those personal alarm things that you wear incase you get attacked? You pull a pin or push a button and it sets of this ear peircing alarm that draws all sorts of attention to you. I'm sure something like that would scare the crap out of any sort of dog. (Or mountain lion for that matter)
Which makes me think those little air horns for parties and sports games. would work just as well
Wasp spray? I don't think it is as dangerous for the sprayer as pepper spray is. That might work against coyotes. I've also been told if a dog attacks to shove your fist down his throat until he chokes and/or passes out. I assume this would work for a coyote as well but not sure how effective it would be if there was more than one. A knife in your pocket might come in handy.
Personally if you are running in an area where you are seeing wild animals coming that close to you (that's not normal) I would either run with a buddy or not run there at all and find a safer place to run/walk. A few people together is more intimidating to an animal than a single person alone. Going alone is never a good idea, as you never know what you will find, be it a coyote or a dangerous person.
Last edited by Linkovicha; 05-30-2012 at 05:19 PM.
I second the wasp spray as it shoots a long distance. And I would make sure the local animal control knows about the coyotes. They may need to be relocated.
We get packs like that around here too. And the really awsome bike path that everyone uses to exercise runs right along the desert before cutting right into it for about a mile or so. So we see coyotes and snakes (in the morning) all the time. They don't get very close, they are really shy around here.
Pepper spray will work, but be sure you know how to use it so you don't mace yourself or your doggie if you're down wind.
How about those personal alarm things that you wear incase you get attacked? You pull a pin or push a button and it sets of this ear peircing alarm that draws all sorts of attention to you. I'm sure something like that would scare the crap out of any sort of dog. (Or mountain lion for that matter)
Which makes me think those little air horns for parties and sports games. would work just as well
I'll have to look into the personal alarm, and see if I can find a store that sells them, they sound like it would be easy enough to carry around with me, and I could really see air horns working, they are loud for sure.
Wasp spray? I don't think it is as dangerous for the sprayer as pepper spray is. That might work against coyotes. I've also been told if a dog attacks to shove your fist down his throat until he chokes and/or passes out. I assume this would work for a coyote as well but not sure how effective it would be if there was more than one. A knife in your pocket might come in handy.
Personally if you are running in an area where you are seeing wild animals coming that close to you (that's not normal) I would either run with a buddy or not run there at all and find a safer place to run/walk. A few people together is more intimidating to an animal than a single person alone. Going alone is never a good idea, as you never know what you will find, be it a coyote or a dangerous person.
I've heard of the shoving the fist in the mouth, I don't know if I'd be brave enough to do it, but if the worst case scenario ever happens it would be something I'd do if needed.
And yea these coyotes have come really close, like 5-10 feet close, the single coyote this morning was more like 10 feet away from me, and the pack was 5 feet and those guys were bigger than this single one, and bigger than my 90lb lab mix. I do my running alone as I have no one else to go with, though I do bring my cell phone. And the bike bath that I run is actually a really popular one right behind my house, there were quite a few people riding there bikes and running at the same time I was. The coyote just kind of came out of no where though and the other people had already passed by me. All he did was look at me, and I looked at him while he was trotting beside me then hopped into the bushes on the other side of the bike path. I didn't sense any agression from him but with him being a wild animal I guess you never know. But the pack of coyotes sure did scare the heck out of me, I could of sworn they were going to attack when the were loping besides me, but thankfully they ran past me and left me and my dog alone. I just don't want to take another chance like that again though, so I've stopped running at night.
I second the wasp spray as it shoots a long distance. And I would make sure the local animal control knows about the coyotes. They may need to be relocated.
I didn't even think about wasp spray, I could probably get ahold of that easier than the pepper spray, and I like the fact that it shoots long distance. I think the animal control must know about the coyotes as they have been here for years, I even remember seeing and hearing them when I was a kid. They seem harmless for the most part, the worst they have done is eat a few house pets , which is the reason why I always keep mine inside at night, but other than that they don't do to much harm. I kind of want them around too because they help keep our large rodent infestation in check
I agree with thundahthighs! I think I'd pee my pants, holy crap lol. But then again I generally never have to worry about any wildlife. I'm sure there are dangerous animals around but I've certainly never seen them.
I lived in Eqypt for a while and there are packs of domestic dogs, gone wild, that range near the towns (I lived in a secure compound outside town). When I wanted to walk outside of the compound I would encounter packs of these dogs and they were very threatening. I used to carry a cattle prod. These discharge a small electric charge which does not harm the animal but is ample deterrent.
I appreciate that you may not wish to carry a prod while you run but it is a bit more humane than pepper spray.
Your situation sounds more like when I was in Africa and walked out into the scrub in Botswana. An ostrich used to follow me. They are not friendly creatures and I was in its territory but as this happened every morning and it used to wait for me to arrive, I guessed it was just being social and enjoyed the company. It rather sounds like your coyote is sharing a run with you. I guess if you fell over or got injured the pack or hunting mentality may take over.
To be honest I am on the side of those who say find another route to enjoy your run. I live in Germany now and my partner and I walk in the hills where we run into wild boar. Trust me... we always select a different, less boar-ridden route the next time. While they are accustomed to walkers, even runners, they are wild animals and their behaviour is predicated on non-threatening presences.
If they aren't sensing aggression or fear from you or your dog, you may have just picked up a few running buddies. Maybe carry pepper spray or a bb gun to discourage any attacks, or use a different route?
It might be worth it to find out if a high-frequency device would work for coyotes, the way they work for dogs? They're sold as bark deterrents - putting out a singal that's too high for humans to hear, but is very distracting and painful for the dogs.
Honestly, I would also suggest running elsewhere. While I think it's somewhat rare, coyotes can and will attack people - you just never know. Where I live, a woman was killed by a pack of coyotes a couple of years ago.
I think you've gotten some really good advice here.
I'm a 100% animal lover and believe it to be wrong to kill/hurt animals unless your life is TRULY in danger. It sounds like you just want a "go away, please don't eat me" deterrent, for which I applaud you.
But a wild animal is just that: WILD. You can never truly predict their intentions. But man! I just think it is SO COOL that they "ran beside" you for a minute. I mean WOW... just "a call of the wild" moment. COOL!!!! (and I'm so glad that's ALL they did! glad for you & your dog!)
IT MIGHT HELP EASE YOUR MIND TO KNOW:
Coyotes don't NORMALLY attack humans. They prey on smaller, weaker animals, such as small pets, rabbits, rodents, some birds, etc. They are scavengers as well as hunters, and they are very smart (like canines tend to be!) -which is why people should NEVER feed them (or bears, or dolphins or any wild animal). But as I said, SCAVENGERS. They'll attack a trashcan that has left over food in a minute! - Coyotes have a justifiably natural fear of humans. However, coyote attacks on people occur when a coyote has become comfortable around people, often as a result of people feeding them (either on purpose or inadvertently) - which I say again, which is why people should NEVER feed them. Attacks on full grown humans are VERY rare. Most recorded attacks have been small children - toddler size.
I did a search & could only find one recorded instance where a coyote attacked a full grown person: in 1997 a 40-year-old woman jogger in Benkelman, Nebraska, was bitten on the leg when a coyote attacked her as she jogged around an athletic track. (Animal Damage Control Program of the USDA). All the other searches turned up instances of small children.
I spoke to a wildlife specialist that works on my campus about this. HE said that in the rare event that a coyote attacks you or you think might attack you, in a firm, strong, loud voice, (like you would an aggressive dog) yell at the coyote to make it back off. DO spread your feet apart & raise your arms in the air to make yourself look bigger. DON'T run away since a coyote can outrun you (unless you can run faster than 30 mph!) and as with any wild animal, will most likely consider you "prey" if you turn to run.
And I agree with others who have posted to maybe find another place to run! (But I still think it's WAY COOL that they ran beside you for a minute!!!!)
Last edited by Beach Patrol; 05-31-2012 at 12:20 PM.
Any tips on protecting yourself against wild animals?
, which is the reason why I always keep mine inside at night, but other than that they don't do to much harm. I kind of want them around too because they help keep our large rodent infestation in check 
I mean... just.... WOW.
(and I'm so glad that's ALL they did! glad for you & your dog!)