# Small Dogs versus Coyotes
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-dogs-versus-coyotes/719054
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 1, 2015, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-dogs-versus-coyotes/719054 "2015-05-01T23:40:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 5
### Author:  [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2023, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-dogs-versus-coyotes/719054/81 "2023-04-29T12:36:40Z")
That reminds me of the time I awoke in my tent to the sight of a large grizzly bear charging me in my knapsack! It was terrifying, and a close call, but I managed to stave off the attack.
Ok, sure, it turned out just to be just a well-fed raccoon, but he sure looked huge and menacing!
By the same token, many people underestimate the danger of many wild animals by their seemingly innocuous appearance. I believe coyotes fall into this category. They don’t look mean and they don’t look strong. They just look like skinny, friendly house dogs. The kind of dog you may see in the park and unleash your little Fifi to go frolic with in the woods. Unfortunately, Fifi isn’t coming back _out_ of the woods.
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### Author:  [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2023, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-dogs-versus-coyotes/719054/82 "2023-04-29T13:45:37Z")
> [@Tibby](#):
>
> That reminds me of the time I awoke in my tent to the sight of a large grizzly bear charging me in my knapsack!
I’d be terrified too seeing a bear wearing my knapsack.
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### Author:  [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2023, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-dogs-versus-coyotes/719054/83 "2023-04-29T13:49:19Z")
That’s just silly. _I_ was in the knapsack. _He_ was wearing my pajamas.
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### Author:  [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2023, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-dogs-versus-coyotes/719054/84 "2023-04-29T13:52:52Z")
So you were naked just wearing a knapsack? Is **that** what scared off the bear?
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### Author:  [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2023, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-dogs-versus-coyotes/719054/85 "2023-04-29T13:55:54Z")
No, he was jealous.
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### Author:  [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2023, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-dogs-versus-coyotes/719054/86 "2023-04-29T14:03:30Z")
Of the knapsack? That must be one fine knapsack you got there.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2023, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-dogs-versus-coyotes/719054/87 "2023-04-29T15:02:22Z")
> [@Tibby](#):
>
> By the same token, many people underestimate the danger of many wild animals by their seemingly innocuous appearance. I believe coyotes fall into this category. They don’t look mean and they don’t look strong. They just look like skinny, friendly house dogs.
I think it was in the 80s, somewhere in Westchester County, NY, a young woman saw a weak, sickly German Shepherd on the streets. The dog appeared tame and she took it to a local vet for treatment. Turns out it was a coyote. The vet was surprised that it was docile but had to turn it over to animal control because if it recovered it was certain to regain it’s untamed behavior.
I could not find a cite for this, it was written up in the local papers at the time. While looking I ran across a copy of this old [NY Times article on coydogs.](https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/27/nyregion/trail-of-coydog-ends-in-questions.html) It affirms the info posted already, that coydogs are rare but reports that were at one time confirmed to exist but would have survival problems. The sick dog/coyote I think happened around that time although as it notes coyote sightings were still rare in the area. Although my 4 year old says he spotted a moose in our yard and we all laughed but there was a moose in the area at the time, it’s cross-county journey was followed in the papers. I’m pretty sure the dinosaur he spotted was something else though.
> [@All the news that fits in print](#):
>
> Mr. Henry said coydogs did appear in the 1950’s and early 1960’s, but research has shown they tended to live for only two generations and die out. ‘‘They gave birth to pups in December and January, when there was less chance for survival,’’ he said.
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### Author:  [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2023, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-dogs-versus-coyotes/719054/88 "2023-04-30T13:52:57Z")
Thanks to **Gary\_Robson** for his informed posts. This is SD at its best. I used to spend some time in central Pennsylvania near Penn State. A few years ago and for the first time, I heard coyotes howling at night. I was surprised at the number of different individuals that were chiming in. I was at the base of and facing a ridge. It was easy discern the general locations of different animals. I never did see one, though.
I live on a barrier island in NJ and we used to have enough foxes (maybe a few?) to keep the rabbit population down. Things have changed in that regard for some reason but its probably only a matter of time before coyotes cross over from the mainland. The bay rarely freezes anymore and there are only a few narrow roads leading out here, so maybe not
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### Author:  [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2023, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-dogs-versus-coyotes/719054/89 "2023-04-30T15:23:01Z")
> [@MikeF](#):
>
> I live on a barrier island in NJ and we used to have enough foxes (maybe a few?) to keep the rabbit population down.
FWIW NJ Shore fox population seems to be recovering. Apparently mange took lots of them out. But the shore rabbit explosion preceded that apparently.
> **[Ocean City seeing revival in fox population](https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/ocean-city-seeing-revival-in-fox-population/article_af74a3fa-cd4a-11ec-b6b8-03adfc49d7a9.html)**
>
> OCEAN CITY — On an overcast spring morning, a lone fox kit peeked over a beachfront bulkhead keeping an eye on things while its siblings remained under cover in the
And FWIW coyotes have already made their way on the NJ barrier island my MIL lives on …
> **[Coyote Sightings On Long Beach Island: Police](https://patch.com/new-jersey/barnegat-manahawkin/coyote-sightings-long-beach-island-police)**
>
> The Long Beach Township Police advised residents to call the police department if they encounter an aggressive coyote.
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### Author:  [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2023, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-dogs-versus-coyotes/719054/90 "2023-05-01T23:41:48Z")
I live on Absecon Island, a bit south of LBI and haven’t seen or heard of any. Yet They are pretty common inland. Meanwhile, they are trapping foxes on Brigantine Island in order to protect Piping Plovers, an endangered bird species that nests there. The last I heard, Ocean City was claiming problems with the foxes being fed by residents and vacationers. I’d see them occasionally on early morning bike rides but not lately.
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### Author:  [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2023, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-dogs-versus-coyotes/719054/91 "2023-05-15T20:20:27Z")
> [@Tibby](#):
>
> That’s just silly. _I_ was in the knapsack. _He_ was wearing my pajamas.
“One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don’t know.”
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### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2023, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-dogs-versus-coyotes/719054/92 "2023-05-15T22:30:53Z")
Just came in to say that we’ve had one or more coyotes starting to venture into our suburban neighborhood. My daughter was out walking our 60 lb. dog when they encountered a coyote that was somewhat smaller - probably 40-45 lbs. The dog barked, howled, screamed and strained at its leash. The coyote was not only undeterred, it tried to creep closer. My daughter wisely backed herself and the dog away until the coyote lost interest and continued its prowling.
We have no doubt that if the dog and the coyote had actually gone at each other, the coyote would have made short work of the dog.
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### Author:  [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2023, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-dogs-versus-coyotes/719054/93 "2023-05-20T03:55:49Z")
One of the things I miss most about running a wildlife sanctuary was the wolves and coyotes. When I’d arrive in the morning, my first stop was to say hi to the wolves. The coyotes would immediately get jealous and start singing. That would start the wolves howling. On a good day, the sandhill cranes would join in, which would set off the red-tailed hawk. That morning symphony made my whole day.
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### Author:  [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2023, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-dogs-versus-coyotes/719054/94 "2023-05-22T01:07:10Z")
Yeah, that would be fun to hear.
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