I was taking the garbage and recycling out just 5 minutes ago (2:45am) and went to look at the garden.  What did I see?  I am pretty sure it was a coyote!!!  I've been living here for almost 20 years and NEVER saw one before a month ago - it was crossing the street about 11pm like it owned it!  This one was in my backyard right near my garden and fig tree!!  I tried to scare him away, he looked at me like I was disturbing him in my yard!  Geez!!  I think I was a bit more scared then he was.

There are plenty of nights I'm out there at 1 or 2am watering since I work nights - do they make coyote spray?

Also I noticed nibbles off my tomatoes, and just read on the Nat Geo site they eat just about everything - even fruit!! 

FRUIT!!! 

MY FIGS ARE FRUIT!!!!!!!

"do they make coyote spray?" Don't laugh, but pee. Try wolf urine. Here is a link for research, since I have never puchased anything from them.

http://www.predatorpee.com/

I'm sure it was a coyote. They are one of those critters that thrive in suburbia. I think attacks on humans are very very rare, but they will definitely eat cats and small dogs. If you google coyote repellent, there are some options, depending on what you need. Pepper mace usually works on dogs and is inexpensive.

Where I live a 22 rifle shot to the brain is how I would handle it.

Some cannot do it that way I know.

Cecil,
LOL, my backyard is turning into the wild kingdom- birds, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons and now opossum eating the heck out of my fruit trees.
If the 22 or 12 gauge was an option where I live, I'd be a happy man!
I've settled for netting-not too successfully tho.

John

I understand!

The thought of shooting this Coyote tore at my heart...it's just an animal trying to live... but then, when I read that they are opportunistic feeders, which could be our poor, beloved, pets, I sobered up.

I would at least try to repel/discourage the animal first.  But then what?  Poison?  Terrible choices.

Frank

Plenty of coyotes in my neighborhood, occasionally roaming in packs of five or so. I haven't noticed them eating any figs yet, but that may be because there are so many rabbits around here. I'm pretty sure they were eating the low apricots a few years ago until that area was fenced.

Around here they carry RABIES...Better his heart than ours.

Terrible...Rabies!  Tragic for both animals.

F

You're in Texas. They are nuisance animals. .22 will take care of what ails you

I fully agree slingha

I grew up in upstate NY and we have lots of coyotes and ferral dogs we call coydogs. We used old shoes and hair (from local barber) to keep them away from chickens. It works pretty well, but need to replace about every 3-4 months it seemed.

The upstate NY has some of the MOST beautiful scenery in the whole US

Bar none...

used to drive upto west point every so often with my parents when i was teenager. love the leaves turning color in autumn. sort of remind me of korean mountains.

down here in durham, nc.. all we got is darn pine trees. green all year long.

Since I am in TX, do you think using a .22  IF it's on my property would be considered defending myself from a trespasser?  Since I am in the burbs, I doubt if a .22 would be legal - I couldn't do it anyway.

John, I feel like I'm an episode in Nat Geo wild!  I had an opossum (juvenile) in my garage Easter weekend. Squirrels are all over.  There is a bunny (he's very cute!) come visit in the garden and basks under the flowers and relaxes!

And I agree about upstate NY - some beautiful country there. 

Pete, here everything just turns brown and fall off!

JoAnn,

How about contacting animal control? Here in Pittsburgh they will not only loan you a trap, but come and take the critter away once you catch it. I'm not sure trapping a coyote would be that easy, but they may have another solution for you also. Luckily I have only had to deal with groundhogs, although we had a coyote sighting in the city limits last year.

Aaron

Coyote's will only kill your dog or your cats.  They will leave your figs alone!  They travel in packs, so this little sweet lone one is no threat.  We get them here, and everyone keeps their pets inside at all times.  They don't like figs, but deer do!  Big horned sheep do!  Birds do! 

Look out!

Suzi
This is why I have my pink ammo!  But no prob with the coyotes!  Roam free!

Mace does work but Hornet/wasp  spray can go over 20ft. or more.
Best line of defense while watering during those hours is what I just recommended. Be sure to have goggles on when it's windy, you don't want a back splash.

I cannot carry mace or pepper spray in my truck but there's nothing about not carrying hornet or wasp spray.
Because if you spray an intruder it's a sure ER for him or her.

Be safe

Not supposed to carry a firearm in a big truck!

But I know a guy that use too....

LOL Cecil,
I go to Canada alot and they see on my passport where I am from it's straight to the X-ray. Search every now and then. LOL
So guns are out of the question.

You should see the looks on some of them, if I can take a picture you would think this is a Million $$$ shot.

But for the most part ( 99% ) I am treated with respect and dignity.

You mean to tell me the truck brokers cannot hold the firearms near the customs now!  That is how we handled it...but remember we retired in 1999

It's a whole different industry Cecil.
The thing we used to call courtesy? Been long gone my friend.

I know that...I witnessed a big change in that

ya have to remember, I was trucking long before the Interstate System was finished....

Vivian,

I get into it all the time with these tail gating truck drivers, it's a lost cause.
When they tail gate me I ask them if they have a helmet on and then they ask why, I tell them because they wish they had it on if I were to suddenly slam on the breaks.

I cannot go into detail at what else is said.