“Wildlife officials are putting up warning signs on the University of Colorado’s east campus in Boulder after a dog and its owner were attacked by a coyote,” the AP reports. Wait. Can coyotes read? Oh. I get it. It’s a warning sign for bipeds against the possibility of a coyote attack. Let’s go to dailycamera.com for the sequence of events that led to the signage . . .
CU police on Friday reported that a man and his dog were walking in a wooded area southwest of Foothills Parkway and Arapahoe Avenue around 6:30 p.m. when the incident occurred.
The man told police the coyote appeared to be focused on them for a period of time before approaching and finally attacking his dog [not shown]. The dog was on a leash, police said, and the man was able to pull the dog clear of the assault.
The coyote then lunged at the man, according to police, biting his left forearm as he reached out to block the coyote’s advance. The man managed to fend off the attack by kicking the coyote and swinging a stick as it retreated, police said.
So the man had a chance to shoot the coyote but didn’t. Because he didn’t have a boom stick (a.k.a., gun). Huh. So what’s the proper protocol for dealing with a coyote when you don’t have a gun?
CU police, meanwhile, advise that if a coyote approaches, do not run or turn your back. People are advised to make themselves as large as possible, wave their arms and throw objects, and also face the coyote, and back away slowly.
I wonder if the CU police would have any further recommendations for people about to be attacked by a coyote (or any other wild animal) when walking a dog (who must have been going nuts) or, God forbid, accompanied by a small child or two?