On the prowl...

At night, I tend to walk Max just down the street and around our small community. Our nightly walks are close to home ever since the encounter with a coyote.



About eight months ago, I was walking little Max through a large park less than a mile from our house at night. Nature called so I tied Max up to a tree in front of the restroom and went inside for just a minute. I heard Max barking. When I came out, I saw a tall, scraggly looking coyote run past Max. I quickly untied Max and started yelling and cursing at the coyote. We turned around and started our walk back home. I turn around and saw the coyote following us. I yell and curse at the coyote some more and the coyote would slink off into the shadows. We continued our walk home and out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the coyote following us from the darkness of the field parallel to our path home. Again, I yelled and cursed at him some more until he slunk off once again. I wasn't so much afraid for myself, but I was afraid that this coyote would run by and try to snag Max. Max was still pretty small at just 10 months old at the time. I couldn't believe how aggressive this coyote was. He must of been pretty hungry to be stalking us like that.

Tonight, like every night, we walked down the street and around the block. Toward the end of the walk, we were walking towards the corner of the community that is open to the canyon when we spotted a pair coyotes walking past a light post. Max barked weakly at them. One coyote turned and started approaching. I yelled at the coyote and he just stopped and looked at us. I quickly took out a small flash light and focused the beam at him as I yelled at him. He then turned away into the darkness where the other coyote went.

Since I tend to work pretty late as an engineer, I tend to walk Max at night. I never walk Max at night without:

1. A flashlight... I carry a small mag light. It is useful for picking up after Max in the dark as well as help scaring away hungry coyotes. The light shining directly at them in the dark is a pretty good deterrent. Coyotes are mainly nocturnal animals with eyes that are very sensitive to light. A bright light focused at them blinds their night vision and ensures they can't stalk you out from the shadows.
   
2. A small pocket knife... I have never had to take out my knife for any reason and probably never will. It is good to be prepared though.

Moral of the story, be prepared and be aware. I hear about coyotes attacking children in East Los Angeles in the news and local cats going missing all the time. Even pets and kids in the backyard are not completely safe. Coyotes can leap pretty high fences just like deer can. These coyotes are out and about hunting every night. Be careful out there!