Coyotes? (Worcester, Cambridge, Shrewsbury: homes, neighborhood, camping)

[DawnMTL]

This may be one of the stranger questions you've encountered on this board, but it's something that's been concerning me.

We're moving to Worcester at the end of the summer, in the 01602 zip code.

We're coming from West Hartford, CT, which is a totally suburban neighborhood, not to be confused with rural (it's not). Our neighborhood is, though, surrounded on two sides by woods.

There have been numerous occasions while I've been walking my dog -- early morning before it's light out, but once even in the middle of the day -- that we've encountered a coyote roaming the streets. It's also not uncommon to hear them at play (at prey???) in the woods at night. I don't care what they're doing out in the woods, but when they're walking less than 10 feet away from me on the street, that's ridiculously scary.

Are there coyotes in Worcester? Has anyone seen them roaming the streets, like they are apt to do in West Hartford?

[Justin Sparks]

Yes.

As well, there is an incredible array of fauna most wouldn't believe, almost exclusively nocturnal.

[gentlearts]

I lived in 01602 and before that, 01605, and I never saw anything wilder than a squirrel. However, there are plenty of wooded areas where there could be possibly be coyotes nearby.

[Frostnip]

Coyotes aren't going to bother you, there's nothing to fear. They can grab a pet if you let it wander off, though, so be sure to use a leash and keep your animal near you when you're outside in a coyote-populated area.

[DawnMTL]

Originally Posted by Justin Sparks

Yes.

As well, there is an incredible array of fauna most wouldn't believe, almost exclusively nocturnal.

Lovely.

I thought that we were always nocturnal until I started seeing them at 3.30 in the afternoon.

They're getting more daring, it seems!

Sigh...

Originally Posted by gentlearts

I lived in 01602 and before that, 01605, and I never saw anything wilder than a squirrel. However, there are plenty of wooded areas where there could be possibly be coyotes nearby.

Something to look forward to, I guess...

Originally Posted by Frostnip

Coyotes aren't going to bother you, there's nothing to fear. They can grab a pet if you let it wander off, though, so be sure to use a leash and keep your animal near you when you're outside in a coyote-populated area.

I'm not particularly concerned about myself. My dog is a strong beast -- he's just 35 pounds on short legs, but he can easily pull a 6-foot, 200-pound man on his leash. He's crazy strong.

He's also not animal-friendly. He's a barker. And a lunger. That's been my concern. Luckily, so far, he's been in such awe of the coyotes that we've seen, that he just stops where he is, stands stock-still, and stares in disbelief. All the while, I'm trying to drag him home. I just hope that he remains in awe instead of trying to "make friends."

[Justin Sparks]

Yes, dogs attend coyotes on a primal level.

I was camping once in the California Sierra with my dog, a large, white, Alsatian Shepard. Sometime in the middle of the night a pack of coyotes could be heard yapping in the distance, but moving, closer and closer until they were right on us. They were on the chase evidently but their course led them right by our camp.

This dog of mine was a friendly brute with people but had always been a handful around other male dogs and I had to keep him on short leash or he'd never miss a chance to mix it up if he could. But these were not dogs as he knew very well. He just about knocked the tent down on me trying to get in, lol. He wanted no part of those wild cousins out in the darkness.

The coyotes moved on through, their game was afoot.

[DawnMTL]

Originally Posted by Justin Sparks

But these were not dogs as he knew very well. He just about knocked the tent down on me trying to get in, lol.

That's hilarious! (Well, in a scary kinda way!)

I find it incredible that Artie, my 35-pound short-legged monster, knew that this was not a beast he should mess with. For him not to bark or lunge -- every single time we've seen a coyote -- meant that he *knew* this was somehow different. I thanked my lucky stars each time.

[timtoolman]

There are coyotes, moose, deer, bears, turkey you name it. We cut the trees down build homes, towns where do you think the animals are going to live.
IN YOUR BACK YARD.

[gibroni]

I've seen them in Cambridge! There are some living in Mt Auburn cemetery and sometimes they come out on the streets. Check it out on the web, there are some cool pics.

[brent s]

I'm in Shrewsbury, next town over, and I hear them at night quite often, although I've never actually seen one.