Should I let my 6 year old play outside? There are Coyotes around

yes. if a cat can roam god knows where and be fine, a kid in the yard is platy safe from a coyote.
 
I live about 40 miles east of Austin, Texas, out in the country. I always have an eye on my 5 year old grandson when he's outside playing. We have a large number of coyotes and wild hogs, as well as several mountain lions out here. My neighbor just a quarter mile down the road has lost 3 sheep to a mountain lion with a cub she's teaching to hunt in the past month. Saying "they won't" or "they shouldn't" is tantamount to sticking one's head in the sand. Quoting statistics of coyote and big cat attacks in daylight is no proof at all from an actual attack. I'd definitely keep an eye on your little one if there are coyotes around. Living in an urban or suburban environment, they have probably lost most, if not all, of their natural fear of man.

Fire away, if you wish to do so, but I live with these animals around every single day and night...I don't take the danger lightly.

Ron
 
rwc53 said:
I live about 40 miles east of Austin, Texas, out in the country. I always have an eye on my 5 year old grandson when he's outside playing. We have a large number of coyotes and wild hogs, as well as several mountain lions out here. My neighbor just a quarter mile down the road has lost 3 sheep to a mountain lion with a cub she's teaching to hunt in the past month. Saying "they won't" or "they shouldn't" is tantamount to sticking one's head in the sand. Quoting statistics of coyote and big cat attacks in daylight is no proof at all from an actual attack. I'd definitely keep an eye on your little one if there are coyotes around. Living in an urban or suburban environment, they have probably lost most, if not all, of their natural fear of man.

Fire away, if you wish to do so, but I live with these animals around every single day and night...I don't take the danger lightly.

Ron
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I've lived in rural areas for half my life (I'm 49). A six year old child should be supervised no matter where one lives. But there are many childhood dangers which pose a much greater risk to they well-being of a child than coyotes. A coyote will not approach an inhabited dwelling where there is activity, certainly not in the country, during daylight hours, unless it is ill. They might watch from a safe distance, but they won't approach. The danger is vanishly small. Far more risk of being run over, poisoned, or injured in a fall or other accident.

Andy
 
Keep in mind, some info is mixing up 'wild' vs 'suburban' coyotes.

Truth is, the suburban ones are more worrisome as they are learning to not immediately fear humans. This goes for wild cats, bears, etc etc.

Locally they are learning that people will back down from them as people are not allowed to be armed here and in general, most will not up any fight by nature. Not a good thing.

I wouldn't keep the kid from playing, but I would just make sure he has respect for wild animals and doesn't confuse them with a puppy ;-).
 
I grew up in the So CA desert, occasionally hearing coyotes at night. But very rarely in the day, and only when out in the middle of nowhere. It was pretty rural at the time, and they were quite wary of humans, as any interaction would likely end unfavorably for the coyote. As a result, they tended to keep a safe distance.

If you're seeing them during the day, as happens in some suburban/exurban areas these days, I'd be worried. But if pets aren't disappearing in the area, I'd say extra caution is probably unwarranted.
 
Here's my 2 cents:
I'd keep an eye on very young children. Coyotes are wild no matter where you find them.
In warmer weather urban coyotes are very bold. They will take a meal at any opportunity and are very clever. They tend to be lone hunters in warmer months.

In cold weather, mid winter, they will group together as a pack and can will hunt alone or with others. They do gather as packs when the weather is bitter cold, for the good of all. It's also likely they are feeding pups late winter so you could have a group or pair of mature coyotes out hunting or they can have young ones along to teach them to stalk and hunt.
I've seen entire packs out in a field behind houses, hunting in broad daylight.
I've had some stalking me late at night leaving a firepit in the woods as has another friend.
Last Saturday I walked into the woods during daylight with fresh snow and no animal tracks on the path in. I left about midnight and noticed multiple coyote tracks all around where a friend and I had a nice little fire and on the trail out.

At home, during mid winter, I've seen two sitting outside my neighbors residence around 3am. They have small dogs they let out to pee in the wee hours. They are waiting for a meal that they know is there.

I'd be careful with small children day or night.
 
Just because your cats have always returns does not mean your son is safe! Ask yourself a question, "Can my son run as fast, climb a fence or tree as quick as a feline?"
 
You should definitely keep an eye on your child. Wen I lived in Macon GA my wife's family owned some property that butted up against the Budweiser corporate hunting property, there where several coyotes on our side of the property and there where more then one occasion of my wife's sister's kid's (4,8,11,13) seeing and being chased by these animals. It got so bad that they armed all the kid's with oc and whistles, and all of the adults kept a pistol or shotgun with them wen out on the property. Me and my father in law finally killed three of them one night wile we where hunting.
 
Johnny Warner said:
Just because your cats have always returns does not mean your son is safe! Ask yourself a question, "Can my son run as fast, climb a fence or tree as quick as a feline?"
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Couldn't say it better. When my kids were young, I wouldn't allow a dog or cat not familiar with them come closer than a couple of meters of them (or viceversa); little ones tend to see almost any animal as Disney characters; they almost instinctively try to pet them.
If I can offer advice: let him play but under watch, and have a firearm or something similar (I'd have a gun, anyway), at hand.
 
wyattT said:
yes. if a cat can roam god knows where and be fine, a kid in the yard is platy safe from a coyote.
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That's awful advice. Putting a cat on par with a child...yeah...no.


You should be cautious of letting your child play free if there are coyotes nearby, yes. There's nothing wrong with a parent being cautious of their child and taking care of them. If you feel you need to watch them, then do so..don't listen to silly forum posters who feel like they can make potentially life-altering decisions for your family.
 
JParanee said:
I d worry more about 2 legged predators
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I agree, my kids dont play outside unless I am inside watching them or outside with them, the price is just too high. Coyotes are a concern but any more than a stray dog or something.
 
rwc53 said:
I live about 40 miles east of Austin, Texas, out in the country. I always have an eye on my 5 year old grandson when he's outside playing. We have a large number of coyotes and wild hogs, as well as several mountain lions out here. My neighbor just a quarter mile down the road has lost 3 sheep to a mountain lion with a cub she's teaching to hunt in the past month. Saying "they won't" or "they shouldn't" is tantamount to sticking one's head in the sand. Quoting statistics of coyote and big cat attacks in daylight is no proof at all from an actual attack. I'd definitely keep an eye on your little one if there are coyotes around. Living in an urban or suburban environment, they have probably lost most, if not all, of their natural fear of man.

Fire away, if you wish to do so, but I live with these animals around every single day and night...I don't take the danger lightly.

Ron
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I lived in Elgin and found cougar tracks...my neighbors thought I was crazy.
 
I'd be more concerned with the thugs that roam around Smyrna than the coyotes!
 
Andrew Colglazier said:
I've lived in rural areas for half my life (I'm 49). A six year old child should be supervised no matter where one lives.
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Yeah I agree with Andrew. Six year olds need supervision at play. There are a lot of hazards for a little guy that are beyond wildlife. Stone steps, temptation to dive off mounds of dirt, errant sharp hazards on the ground. Keep your eye's on the little ones. Maybe at 7-8 they start to become a touch more independent.
 
Andy, I'm 57, and have been in wild places most of my life (including a 22 year career in Special Operations). I've lived and worked in Central and South America, Africa and the Middle East...and of course here in the good ol' USA! I know what the odds are of these things occuring, but statistics are based on trend analysis, which takes into account everything, everywhere. My point is that you can't dismiss something just because the "odds" are against it. Better safe than sorry is a good motto when it comes to something like this. One doesn't need to be paranoid, but also not to go blissfully around thinking it will never happen here, to me or mine.

Best Regards,
Ron
 
JParanee said:
perfect time to get your kid a good dog
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YES. That's exactly right.

A huge, good natured and loyal "play companion" which will protect him and keep him company is perfect. Or, spend the next 5 years sitting on the porch with your shotgun.

We went the dog(s) route. And the shotguns route.

Get both.
 
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