Are people afraid of wildlife?

[Anonymous]

I don't want to get into the politics stuff again, and the thread was locked, but I was curious because someoen in the gun thread said they might want a gun for protection against wildlife... I was trying to think what that might be around here... worrying about coyotes preying on small house pets?

Or maybe people just have phobias?

Please no replies about guns.

[Anonymous]

Maybe?

We back to a nature preserve and the first time I heard a coyote back there, I thought it might be nice to have a gun, just in case. We don’t have one yet, and I still panic and imagine worst case scenarios of needing to leave the house in the middle of the night and being defenseless, or sitting at our fire pit area and being cornered, so I get it.

[Anonymous]

Ticks that spread Lyme or other chronic diseases are an issue in the long grass and undergrowth, and even in people's backyards. Bears are a regular issue in some areas. Some coyotes and bobcats have attacked pets before.

You don't need to "fear" wildlife, but need to understand wildlife and be vigilant of health implications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe?

We back to a nature preserve and the first time I heard a coyote back there, I thought it might be nice to have a gun, just in case. We don’t have one yet, and I still panic and imagine worst case scenarios of needing to leave the house in the middle of the night and being defenseless, or sitting at our fire pit area and being cornered, so I get it.

coyotes won't bother you.

i'd worry more about the neighbors unleashed dogs. but that's not wildlife.

[Anonymous]

We live somewhere where it's not uncommon to have a bear or bob cat wander through the neighborhood. No one I know has a gun because of that. Most of us take some kind of pepper/bear spray or device that lets our an ear piercing sound when we go for walks. The black bears are pretty skiddish and tend to run off when you make a noise towards them, but if cubs are involved and if your dog goes after them....that's a different story. I haven't had close encounters with Bob cats but they make me nervous.

I know many people who are responsible gun owners. None own them for the purpose of protecting themselves against wildlife. Most of them either competitively shoot or just go to shooting ranges.

[Anonymous]

A lot of people in my neighborhood are afraid of foxes. I guess afraid they'll attack?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe?

We back to a nature preserve and the first time I heard a coyote back there, I thought it might be nice to have a gun, just in case. We don’t have one yet, and I still panic and imagine worst case scenarios of needing to leave the house in the middle of the night and being defenseless, or sitting at our fire pit area and being cornered, so I get it.

coyotes won't bother you.

i'd worry more about the neighbors unleashed dogs. but that's not wildlife.

Probably. But they sure are eerie in the middle of the night, when you can’t tell where they are but can hear them. I worry about what else is wandering around in there, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe?

We back to a nature preserve and the first time I heard a coyote back there, I thought it might be nice to have a gun, just in case. We don’t have one yet, and I still panic and imagine worst case scenarios of needing to leave the house in the middle of the night and being defenseless, or sitting at our fire pit area and being cornered, so I get it.

coyotes won't bother you.

i'd worry more about the neighbors unleashed dogs. but that's not wildlife.

+1. I regularly walk my dogs alone. I see foxes (that do nothing), an occasional raccoon, and tons of deer, but no wildlife that frightens me. On the other hand, one of my dogs was attacked last year by a neighbor's pit bull that was unleashed on their property but ran out when he saw my dogs. Last week, a workman accidentally let a neighbor's dog out of their house. The dog was attacked by two larger dogs being walked without leashes. I've started carrying pepper spray and a noise maker with me, but honestly, the thought of having a gun has crossed my mind once or twice. I could never do it, though.

[Anonymous]

Lions, tigers and bears… OH my!

[Anonymous]

Two legged cougars. More enjoyable spearing them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people in my neighborhood are afraid of foxes. I guess afraid they'll attack?

I’m not afraid of the animal, just don’t want to deal with rabies shots if they get too close

[Anonymous]

I’m not. We have 7 foxes living in our backyard right now: mom, dad and 5 kits. They are delightful to watch and they seem to enjoy playing with the dog toys I put out for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe?

We back to a nature preserve and the first time I heard a coyote back there, I thought it might be nice to have a gun, just in case. We don’t have one yet, and I still panic and imagine worst case scenarios of needing to leave the house in the middle of the night and being defenseless, or sitting at our fire pit area and being cornered, so I get it.

coyotes won't bother you.

i'd worry more about the neighbors unleashed dogs. but that's not wildlife.

I’d be more worried about the neighbors themselves.

[Anonymous]

My mom had a bobcat close encounter. They farmed and she heard what she thought sounded like a baby crying. She walked into a wheat field, suddenly heard the sound again, bobcat and farm cat frozen yowling at each other, they both ran different directions when she showed up.
My dad hunted a moose with 3 other guys and when one guy stayed with the moose (cow) the guy with him went to get the others and equipment to move the carcass. Bull moose showed up, he said it was a bit scary but bull moose did not get up close to him and the cow.
Raccoon babies in a granary looked and sounded cute until my brothers tried to pick them up. Those and beavers caused plenty of damage to farm dogs over the years. We had a dachshund who would take them on and dive after them. This went on for years until the last time she lost. They would also stick their faces into porcupines, and I spent a Christmas pulling quills from the faces of 5 dogs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom had a bobcat close encounter. They farmed and she heard what she thought sounded like a baby crying. She walked into a wheat field, suddenly heard the sound again, bobcat and farm cat frozen yowling at each other, they both ran different directions when she showed up.
My dad hunted a moose with 3 other guys and when one guy stayed with the moose (cow) the guy with him went to get the others and equipment to move the carcass. Bull moose showed up, he said it was a bit scary but bull moose did not get up close to him and the cow.
Raccoon babies in a granary looked and sounded cute until my brothers tried to pick them up. Those and beavers caused plenty of damage to farm dogs over the years. We had a dachshund who would take them on and dive after them. This went on for years until the last time she lost. They would also stick their faces into porcupines, and I spent a Christmas pulling quills from the faces of 5 dogs.

are there many porcupines in the DMV? I know coyotes, bobcats and the occasional bear.

Moose are extraordinarily dangerous. THey're stupid, nearly blind, bad-tempered and very large. Dangerous to hit with your car, but also dangerous if you don't hit them and they want to eff up your car.