Thursday Two Questions Meme - Wild Animals
While taking a hike along the coastal trail about a week ago I came across the above sign and was surprised to learn that there were coyotes roaming the trails. What I found interesting about the sign is that they warn it is illegal to feed wildlife in National Parks. This particular area is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
I find it interesting that they need to warn us because, let's face it, how many people would be sitting around feeding coyotes? Granted I feed the squirrels, which by the way is also illegal but I don't think I'd be feeding other wildlife. My two questions are:
1. Have you ever encountered wildlife such as coyotes, deer etc... up close and personal?
2. If you have, how did you react?
For me-
1. Yes, I encountered a deer in Marin a few years back. We came upon each other on a hiking trail and were about 20 feet apart. It was a bit unnerving however I walked away very slowly while keeping my eyes on the deer. A few seconds later, he was gone. I've always heard, never run so I kept my cool.
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Comments
1. My parents went hunting and brought home a baby fox whose mother was killed. We raised it until it was ready to be released. I have taken some pics of deer I spotted along the roadside. 2. I try to be as still as possible. I don't want to startle them.
Respecting a wild animal's space is more important than giving them food.
Once when walking my dog (pug named Bossley) a coyote crossed our trail about 50 feet in front of us, glancing over at us then disappearing into the brush. We continued cautiously forward and when we got to that spot in the trail I looked in the direction the coyote had gone. He was standing about 30 feet off the trail watching us pass. He did not molest us, so we continued our walk. Very exciting, though!!
We hear of mountain lion sightings pretty often here, but I've never seen one myself (yet).
i kept my distance, i let them pass quietly.
That's really an interesting sign to see. Who in the world would want to feed a coyote?
Once while hiking in the Smoky's a young bear cub saundered across our path. It could care less that we were there, but I can tell you, I was scared stiff. We all froze in our path until he left. We were fortunate.
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1&2) We ran into a wild boar while walking our trails once. She was huge and was running down the hill towards us. I was so frighten, I screamed my head off! I think the whole Gualdalupe Trails heard me. It must have frightened her enough that she changed direction and ran off...which was our lucky day! She could have ran us over easily. And that would have been a mess.
What about raccoons? I had written a post on the attack on SS- Visitors From the Woods. I think they can be mean.
I have had many up close and personal encounters with animals. I have done a lot of backpacking and have been within a few feet of coyotes, a black bear, a weseal and many deer. The black bear was the most tense as we suprised each other but we both started backing up and went our seperate ways. Remain calm and don't make any sudden moves, they are as curious about us as we are of them.
Similar incident with the coyote, I walked around the corner of an old farm house and came face to face with him. I stood still, he ran.
1) I haven't come close to wild life animals just yet.
2) If I ever encounter a wild animal, my instinct would be gone the other way!
We came upon bears in the road. They walked pass our car window and we drove away from them and then stopped and take photos. This was in Montana. It was weird that people thought it was ok to just mill around with them.
I have no idea how I'd react if I came upon a wild animal until I do. I think I'd be really calm and still and then just try to make myself walk away slowly.
Daisy, feeding an alligator is NOT something I would ever in a million years do. I am deathly afraid of them. You and Harley stay away from those critters, okay?