Almost attacked by a Coyote today

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Congo Kid, Oct 10, 2009.

  1. Congo Kid

    Congo Kid Middle Aged Wannabe MTB'r

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    So I did the Blackstar to Sierra Peak ride this afternoon, and heading back from Sierra Peak and a mile from Beeks when I hear something behind me. I looked to my left, looking for the shadow and I saw what I thought was a dog running right behind me.

    The following sequence of thoughts and brain processing happened in about 1/2 second.

    When I heard the sound, I first thought 1) it was odd for a biker to be catching up to me, as we hadn't passed anybody going to or from Sierra Peak - my son and I were the only ones on that trail.

    Then I saw the shadow of a "dog" running right next to me. I was going about 15 mph on a relatively flat section. Second thought: What's a dog doing out here on this road? Also, see thought # 1 above where I knew we were the only ones on that trail.

    So I turned around and there's an average sized coyote running with me, with his head at my rear wheel, about 1 foot from my right calf. Licking his chops, no doubt.

    I yelled "whoa", and he backed off and stopped. I turned and continued pedaling, with some serious adrenaline, and thought he was done with me. Unfortunately not.

    100 yards later, I see the shadow coming up on me again, so I yelled again, and this time he stopped for good. Fortunately, as I now had a hill to climb and there was no way I could outpedal him.

    My son was way ahead, so I had visions of him waiting for me at Beeks, only to come back a mile or so and find his me mauled in a ditch by a coyote or pack of coyotes. What a lousy way to go. A mountain lion would be quicker and a better way to meet my Maker for sure.

    I kept alert the rest of the way to Beeks, as I've heard of coyotes hunting in packs and trapping their prey, so I wasn't sure if I'd see a few ahead of me just waiting.

    Anyways, that was a scare that I've never experienced before nor have I heard of a close call of this nature with a coyote. Very aggressive and bold behavior.

    So has anybody else experienced a close call with a coyote or heard of this? Is it because they're very hungry?

    Thanks,
    Jeff
     
  2. ebenke

    ebenke Member

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    Cool, a wild coyote that obeys verbal commands. Glad to hear your okay.
     
  3. One_Track_Mind

    One_Track_Mind New Member

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    Maybe he just wanted to say hi...
     
  4. hill^billy

    hill^billy KICK YOUR OWN A$$!.......

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    Get some bear spray at Sport Chalet. peace of mind!
     
  5. Congo Kid

    Congo Kid Middle Aged Wannabe MTB'r

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    Clipped In: Even if I'd had pepper spray or Bear spray, there was no time, especially if he'd decided to snap at my leg and pull me from my bike.

    I've heard people suggest carrying that, but not sure if the percentage of times you "MIGHT" be able to get it out, aim it, and spray it to deter a mountain lion, coyote, or other bad thing is worth it. Then again, a small percentage is better than no percentage......

    Thanks,
    JEFF
     
  6. hill^billy

    hill^billy KICK YOUR OWN A$$!.......

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    Actually if there is a mountain lion eating my helmet I can still spray it from my hip. Will get myself, but if it gets the lion off.
     
  7. Margaritaman

    Margaritaman It's just tequila...

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    There's one that hangs out on the Northwest end of Bonelli Park. I see him on Bee Hive or Bee Line, whatever it's called, all the time. Pretty brazen but a good shout and he backs off. Ya, another one that obeys vebal commands!
     
  8. mpmffitz

    mpmffitz Farm Freerider

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    I was surrounded by a pack of coyotes at Simpson once maybe the cross meant something because once I started picking up rocks and barking at them they departed. The dh to Romona bowl was a welcome site but techy still. Counted my blessings for sure.
     
  9. Waldo

    Waldo Lebowski Urban Achiever

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    I encountered one on Bovinian at Chino Hills who would not get off the trail, even with two of us yelling and tossing stones in it's direction. My best guess was that it was either a mom protecting pups, or was protecting a fresh kill nearby. Maybe your encounter was for a similar reason, but once you got far enough from whatever he or she was protecting, there was no longer a reason to harass you.

    Scary, but memorable and a neat encounter!
     
  10. Rumpled

    Rumpled Longtime Newb

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    I was walking my dogs off the leash on a ball field some time back. It was dark and four coyotes came to us. One managed to get on the back of my lab. Almost the last thing that coyote ever did. Both my lab and pit tore in to him pretty good. My dogs were uninjured, but that coyote limped for the next three years that we lived there.
    We saw these coyotes frequently and they would yip at us like crazy from about 200 yards away.
    They had been living large on the small dogs and cats in the neighborhood.
    All this right in Irvine, at IVC.
    They can get pretty bold, I think most adult humans should be able to run them off.
     
  11. Waldo

    Waldo Lebowski Urban Achiever

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    I was doing a bike trail ride through central Irvine a couple weeks ago and saw two coyotes very boldly trotting along amongst people walking their dogs and jogging. They looked like they thought they owned the place.
     
  12. el cap

    el cap Active Member

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    I saw one lost coyote on Barranca Parkway and Sand Canyon during the summer... just running down the sidewalk toward FedEx. It was quite a site to see in the mid-afternoon and on a busy street.
     
  13. dstepper

    dstepper (R.I.P.) Over the hill

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    I really don't know what to say about a coyote coming that close to a person. For sure not normal coyote behavior. My first thought was possible rabid Coyote; possible but not probable. Coyotes around Laguna will just hold their ground and look at you unless you go at them, then they will run off. Even if a Coyote did attack you while riding it would be very similar to a dog attack. Coyotes kill by crushing its preys windpipe thus suffocating it...human is to big and strong for that to happen, but I still would not want to go thru the rabies TX.

    Dean
     
  14. Congo Kid

    Congo Kid Middle Aged Wannabe MTB'r

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    Dean: One of my thoughts while pedaling on towards Beeks after the close encounter was rabies as well. Where I grew up, we'd occasionally have dogs go "mad" due to rabies, and have to shoot them.

    Also know someone that went through rabies shots back in the 1970's - a painful process with big needles straight in the belly. Not sure if different rabies shots now in 2009, but not my idea of a good time either way.

    Thanks,
    JEFF
     
  15. 27tat27

    27tat27 Two Wheels One Pilot

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    You where in his yard so... Get your peddle on and get out of there.... And I never heard of a cyote attacking by it's self they are pack animales and normaly attack in that form.... Bur it is still no fun to have a wild dog running next to you...
     
  16. gargwarb

    gargwarb New Member

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    I don't sweat coyotes too much. I'm pretty sure I could soundly kick a coyote's a$$ if the need should arise. If one bit me I suppose that getting the shots wouldn't be super happy fun time but....meh. It's just shots.
     
  17. Abui

    Abui Active Member

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    Lesson: Stay with your son. (What if the coyote were pestering him?)
     
  18. KonaDawgDeluxe

    KonaDawgDeluxe REKE/DMC

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    About two months ago at Sycamore Canyon a coyote zipped right by me about 10-15 feet from my front tire across the path just after climbing that steep service road on the following little downhill (that takes you towards what appears to be a water treatment plant behind the fencing). I stopped to see where it was going and then I saw a man on top of a boulder with a big camera taking pictures of it. The photographer most likely spooked it. The coyote was about the size of a medium sized dog. When we used to build custom houses out in Pinon Hills a couple of years ago our crew would sometimes encounter one or two in the morning wandering around the house scrounging up lunch trash from the day before. :lol: :lol: A thrown scrap 2 X 4 would send them on their way. :wave:
     
  19. Pain Freak

    Pain Freak Dead or Alive

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    Not to many years ago I was doing a solo ride in Marshall Canyon. I spotted a coyote and watched him jump/run through the brush along side of me. I thought it was cool that he would ride with me. This went on for a good half mile. I stopped to watch and see if the coyote would go on or continue to ride with me. As I was stopped I looked around and spotted another one lower in the canyon looking up at me. Then I noticed another one who was less then 10 feet from me. By now I was getting spooked as they were circling me and all had their eyes on me. I looked up the path I'd be riding and there was another! By now I was really getting concerned so I decided not to hang around and I rode at the two on the trail. They held their ground until I was within 10 feet of them. They finally walked off into the brush but not that far. This was the only time I've ever been spooked by coyotes. As I rode up the trail I kept looking back and they were following me but it seemed to me like they'd lost interest.
     
  20. sdyeti

    sdyeti New Member

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    We saw two coyotes at Cuyamaca (SD county) yesterday who took off like bats out of hell when we approached.
     

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