“We are currently in the height of coyote mating season when coyotes become more active and are seen more often,” a Monday email from the City of Hudson advises. “Check out our Yard Audit Checklist to assess if you need to make property modifications to discourage coyotes from your yard.”
It’s no surprise to residents. The Northeast Ohio town is situated just to the east of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, “a refuge for native plants and wildlife,” with much of that wildlife, notably deer, raccoons, foxes, and even an occasional bear finding themselves in residential yards looking for food. Of note is the “advice” given if attacked, which doesn’t include being as serious about and capable of prevailing as the bear.
Simple precautions like those listed in the Yard Audit Checklist can reduce the attractions for animals that can prove dangerous in a human encounter, particularly for homes with small children (don’t leave food out, fill in standing water holes, remove brush piles, etc.), albeit the very first tip makes fair the question “What kind of utter moron would intentionally feed/hand-feed them?”
While coyote attacks are relatively rare, we can’t ignore reports that they do occur:
- Woman attacked by coyote in Fall River
- Growing concerns over coyote attacks
- Coyote’s attack on toddler caught on camera
- 3 coyote attacks on people reported within just days
- A rabid coyote likely attacked 2 Rhode Islanders just a day apart
- 9 coyote attacks in 5 days
And as things go, the accompanying “Action Plan” for coyotes works to a point for nonaggressive animals just passing through. But it’s worthless for more pressing scenarios:
“Coyote acting bold, aggressively or exhibiting uncharacteristic behaviors. Examples: Pets or humans being approached or followed; coyote falling over, injured. Coyote closely blocking your path; lunging at pet or human. Coyote present on property day and night and returning regularly; growling. Coyote attacks/kills pets or livestock [and] Physical human encounter. Example: Seemingly intentional attack on a human being.”
The reason it’s useless and even dangerous to heed should be self-evident from the “Actions” assigned to “Residents”:
“Report incident to the police department by calling (330) 342-1800. (In the event of a medical emergency, please call 911).”
Sorry, but if anything four-legged (or two) is threatening citizens on their property, the truism “When seconds count, police are minutes away” takes over, and the only rational and effective “Action Plan” is “Stop the Threat.” If a coyote is aggressive or rabid, shouting and grabbing a garden tool may not be enough. That’s why Hudson citizens would do well to understand what their town’s Code of Ordinances has to say about DISCHARGING FIREARMS AND OTHER WEAPONS:
“No person shall discharge or fire any cannon, gun, rifle, air gun or rifle, revolver, pistol, cross bow, bow and arrow or other weapon or firearm within the Municipality. However, this section shall not be construed as applying to the use of any of such weapons in the lawful defense of any person, or the property of any person…”
That first part is overkill because it effectively prohibits teaching kids safety with BB and pellet guns. It wouldn’t disturb neighborhood peace with noise, and it wouldn’t be hard at all to set up a safe backyard range with adequate backstops, where the projectiles wouldn’t cross property lines and hurt anyone or damage anything. There’s really no justification for government to get involved unless they do.
The second part, fighting back if needed and winning, is what needs to be added to the “Action Plan.”
Also See: Three Attacks by Coyote(s) in Arlington, Texas in Five Days
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating/defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” is a regularly featured contributor to Firearms News, and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.
My brother has the occasional coyote on his property in north Georgia. His only comment on them, so far, is that a running coyote is hard to hit with a rifle.
Another possible action plan would be the tried and true “Shoot, Shovel, Shut Up!”
i will second that ,I am a little more extreme, my land is posted and I have a long arm excavator
This photo was taken a few years back as I was moving into my new home. This is the luckiest Coyote ever. My guns were still in my safe in my old house. I was amazed how docile this critter was. I’ve dealt with these pack animals at my ranch I was moving away from. Me and a couple of grandsons culled 5 or 6 a few years before I moved by setting up a bait station and we waited. Got 3 at one time when the first alpha Coyote discovered the bait. The pictured critter was 50 yards away… Read more »
When you say Sierra club, you said it all. They killed Oregon with the spotted owl and don’t cut down the trees.
anything to reduce the American voters. think about all the times you could need to defend yourself and family and ask why your government doesn’t want you to be able to save a family member or pet? not a pretty thought is it?
I live in a rural portion of a gun friendly state. I have a modest range set up on my property and my grandson really enjoys range time when he comes to visit. Neighbors may hear larger caliber weapons, but none have said anything. I was complaining to an old lady neighbor that the crows have already started visiting my wife’s freshly plowed garden plot. They got a lot of corn last year. Neighbor’s response was, “Hit ’em with a few blasts of your shotgun. Nobody’s gonna care.” Now that’s a good neighbor. If I can get a shot off… Read more »
Whack , stack +SSS = 0 problems from cuyotes .
Follow the 3Ss, stop calling and telling on yourself because there’s no requirement to do so, don’t take pictures and video and post it everywhere and telling on yourselves, man the F up and take care of it like you were born to do.
Archery, DGU, learn to trap and club it like a baby seal, run the little sh.. over with your brodozer truck that’s used for nothing else
This shouldn’t even be a discussion much less an article
Aguilla Colibri
CCI CB
I read yesterday where a coyote went inside a car and removed a toddler in kommiefornia. In Sacramento County it is against the law to discharge a firearm, however, I had a horse ranch and when a pack of dogs attacked a horse I shot at them and no cops came, I had a coyote try and cross my property because it was trying to get my cat, and a butt load of buckshot cured his attitude, no cops showed up. When shooting moles in my front yard, the cop said by law I have a right to protect my… Read more »
In our neck of the woods MM, Coyotes are routinely sick with Distemper. The wildlife operators in Washington ask you to send the head to a vet or into their local offices to check for Distemper. Seems like a lot of extra bother since the Department of Wildlife won’t do anything about the problem anyway. I applaud your statement, I too would never forgive myself if my action or inaction, legal or not, allowed any kid or elderly person get assaulted by an animal or human while I did nothing to stop it. I can’t roll like that. Hell, I… Read more »
I once had an encounter with a Sierra Club member and my gun. I told her my gun was there for my protection as well as hers. She said she would rather have the bear eat her than have me kill it. Long story short, I said then I would watch and I didnt tell her about the bear 100 yards down the trail where she was headed.
That is when you root for the bear.
Ron White did a skit about the bear lover that was hanging out with and filming Alaska grizzlies until one day they ate him.
“Daddy, you remember when you said I’d never amount to sh!t?”
Well, I proved you wrong, Daddy!”
It would have been heartening to read about that bear attack, especially knowing of your prior conversation with her.
I don’t think she would have believed me.
I would have told her about the bear just to see her reaction. My guess is she’d have been less confident in strolling down the trail knowing there was a bear in the vicinity.
A video of her comments followed by the video of her encounter would make a great movie demonstrating the results of unintended consequences. It could also be used in court to justify why you didn’t shoot. LOL!
IF I am mistaken, there IS NO requirement for a person with a gun to protect a person without a gun. Even the SOTUS tells us; POLICE are NOT REQUIRED to PROTECT Individual Americans. What SCOTUS means IS; YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN TO PROVIDE SELF-PROTECTION!!
Under Sheriff Scott Jones, who retired when his term was up in 2023, Sacramento County became shall issue. I don’t know how it is under the current Sheriff, but I assume he is complying with the Bruen decision. It’s on the state level that it’s f****d up. Our legislators passed a bill similar to the one in New York that makes most everywhere a “sensitive place”. It’s being fought in court and is currently under injunction. The law also doubled the hours of instruction required. At the end of year the DOJ announced that NRA certified instructors were no longer… Read more »
Courses taught by only authorized personnel which is the sheriff’s office or police is the same stuff they are pushing here in Oregoneistan. Some offices say they will not do it. The state says that if your local office will not supply the training to get a permit to buy a gun you are out of luck because you cannot go to a different county.
I see this same crap happening in all the blue states and red states trying it but not getting away with it, so far.
Very unconstitutional.
Here is country thinking; When a four legged critter attacks a human, if not teased, IT MUST BE PUT-DOWN!