I don’t know if we can call this encounter “an attack,” but one thing is clear: This coyote is way too habituated to people for its own good.
My guess is that someone has fed this coyote in the past, and although the historical record is full of people taming wild dogs like this, it is probably not such a good idea. People often don’t have good dog sense with domestic dogs. How could they know what to do with an habituated wild coyote?
Plus, people are hell on coyotes. One this cavalier about approaching people is likely to be shot.
And if it nibbles on someone playfully, it will be deemed a killer coyote of the worst sort and be hunted down as a threat to the very existence of humanity.
This coyote needs some hazing.
CLASSIC predatory testing behaviour–incredible video! This MUST be a coyote that has been fed by people in a National Park, and is now taking the next step, which is testing a human as potential prey–there was NOTHING about this encounter that looked like “play” to me! Also, perfectly healthy, non-rabid-acting coyote. Luckily, this guy did not panic and act like prey. Can you imagine how this would have escalated with a panicky, screaming person running or flailing about–especially a small child? This is probably just what happened to the poor woman killed by the Coy-Wolves not long ago. Carrying a good solid walking stick to WHOMP an animal like this is usually all it takes to get it to desist. I love coyotes, but if one did this to me, I’d whomp the crap out of it; for it’s sake as well as mine!
Play and hunting are very similar behaviors in Canids. The eye expression seems more playful, but you get this when dogs hunt squirrels!
They will exhibit these behaviors whether they actually hunt or not.
It’s a mama and the den is near by.
They don’t have pups in the winter.
Anyone know where this was taken? The coyote is a beautiful, healthy crittur!