My grandmother had a blackberry tree and one of my cousins and I used to love picking them to eat right off of the tree. We had to save some for my grandmother as she used to make blackberry pies with a homemade crust. So delicious!
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A hare is about twice the size of a rabbit, with longer ears. Hunted ferociously by shooters until recently. More is here.
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Visiting a friend in Palo Alton, California, I was told she gets the cats in (if the venture out) by about 2pm because of Mountain Lions that “commute” through her back yard.
@becca I sat for a Weimaraner/corgi cross who, on our return from a walk, was delighted to discover a muntjac deer in her back garden - it escaped through the gate that I held open for it.
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Well houses are often built into their natural habitat … it’s called urban sprawl. In Arizona the street I was staying in was at the border of such an area where further development was not permitted and there was a wildlife area beyond.
Coyotes, like foxes and bears, are scavengers as well as hunters so they’re attracted to areas (like yards) where there’s trash containing food. Unfortunately present day humans aren’t great at living without the need for convenience food and leaving lots of waste, which naturally attracts scavengers.
You live with coyotes that have taken (and they definitely will have killed) a beloved pet by modifying behaviours in areas where coyotes are a ‘threat’ - ie not allowed pets outside unsupervised, especially small ones, and especially at dawn and dusk. Also not leaving pet food around outside. It’s just common sense really.
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Oooh, lovely! Possibly mulberries if they were on a tree? Blackberries grow wild on brambles and you definitely wouldn’t want to introduce them into your garden, but the hedgerows here are full of them. Other fruits that grown wild here in the UK are elderberries (the berries are great for cordials, and the flowers for elderberry champagne!), sloes (only really good for flavouring gin), and damsons (great for jam or gin). Happy foraging!
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Haha! I bet that caused some excitement!
Living this way, a person is continuously on guard. And regardless of the common sense one has, if a coyote feels threatened or territorial because of urban sprawl, it could very well attack a dog (with supervision or not) (leashed or unleashed)-- it perceives as prey.
Yes, mulberries! 
Coyotes and foxes rarely (like so rarely it’s not even worth thinking about) attack humans with/around dogs or dogs around humans.
If you’re worried about it (as you clearly are) I suggest you read up about it more about their behaviours as it will put your mind at rest. We are a much bigger threat to them than they are to us.
Sure, if you’re in wildlife rich/wilderness areas you do need to be alert - but when walking there I’m mostly worried about my dogs disturbing the wildlife, not the other way about. If you want zero risk just keep to urban and dog parks.
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Because of the pandemic lockdowns, various wildlife ended up emboldened and returning to some intensely urban areas. Global Study Finds While Humans Sheltered in Place, Wildlife Roamed | University of Montana
Plus, some areas tend to have wildlife integrated, like in San Francisco:
And randomly, stuff like this happens:
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There is a difference between worrying and trying to ascertain information. I am only trying to gain more information into others’ experiences with wild animals while they are dog walking. If wild animals’ presence would be on sits I am interested in, I would like to know about it.
If there is an urban sprawl, how can there be zero risk in an urban area?
And from what I have been reading, wildlife is present in both urban / rural areas.
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The story about the fox that attacked 9 people shows that rare / random occurrences can happen with wild animals.
It was surprising to read that they had bitten people. From foxes that I have seen, they usually run away from people. When I had my dog and we would see foxes, they would immediately run or go into their holes if they saw us.
Hi @sharondc
I don’t walk dogs anymore but you raise a good point that we should all consider. Even just out walking I have encountered wildlife and I don’t mean geese.
In my home town in Orlando in residential neighborhoods there are black bears that walk the sidewalks! Of course there are alligators as well in lakes. Not to scare anyone but these are realities that locals have learned to be aware of. Foxes and bobcats have also surprised me whilst out. So it is a question that should be asked when traveling to an unfamiliar area. A HO would be best to say what maybe found at their location.
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I live in an area (Western Canada) where black bears, cougars, eagles and turkey vultures are very common. Some wolves live in a small territory a few km’s away from my house.
Most bears leave you alone, cougars are very elusive but prone to stalking their prey, eagles and turkey vultures are a potential danger for poultry. It’s a known fact that a bear or cougar will be more likely to attack you (and the dog) if provoked by an off leash dog.
Ever since I moved here, I do feel more alert when I go out for walks. I always scan the environs. I also carry a whistle, sometimes pepper spray. I tend to walk in areas frequented by people. I certainly developed a new awareness when I’m out in the wilderness. If I want a more relaxing walk without having to worry too much I stay on the road.
A couple of months ago a black bear came to check out my chicken coop. I was in the house with my then four month old puppy who started barking with her big dog voice and scared him off.
Our dog has an enclosed area close to the house for playing, sleeps indoors at night. The chicken run is criss crossed by strings so that raptors cannot attack the hens from above.
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Very good point, something that I’ve been considering for when I decide to become an official THS HO instead of only a sitter.
As a responsible HO, you need to make sure you don’t end up with a sitter who feels so uncomfortable taking proper care of your animals and/or won’t enjoy their stay because of the potential outdoor danger.
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I actually did a cat sit that also required I put out food for the foxes! It was very interesting. Dog food in dog bowls every evening. Never saw them but could hear them and in the morning I cleaned their bowls!
Just a regular English garden 
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Oh, yes, I live in Florida and I am quite familiar with the alligators. We have one in our lake and some of the residents have named him Wally. 
Only one street is permitted to have dogs and that is on the side where the alligator is. So they (like everyone) just have to be careful, mindful, and alert.
I agree (and I am adding to my list of questions), it is good to ask the HO about wild animals in their area and be prepared for one’s surroundings.
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Thank you for sharing such detailed information.
Have you had to use the whistle or pepper spray? Do they work?
You’ve got a great watch dog puppy as another set of ears to help keep wild animals at bay.
In 2014 my daughter and I went on a road trip with her Dachshund in the western US. From Colorado through Utah and Nevada into California, where we stayed with my father’s cousin, who had a large rural property with a vineyard. While on a walk in the woods, her dog sniffed around a fallen tree and was bitten on the snout by a baby rattlesnake. Fortunately we managed to get to a vet in time. But it cost $1500 to save her.
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Unusual behavior happens, too. It doesn’t hurt any of us to be aware, keeping perspective. Useful thread.
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