Mace/pepper spray on coyotes?

[Richard K]

We have a neighbor who walks her small dog at night. The area consists of 35 acre plots and there are numerous coyotes. She will not carry a handgun and asked me about carrying mace or pepper spray. I can attest to it working well on most humans and dogs but I've had occasions where it failed to affect individuals with mental problems or were high on acid, meth etc.
What about a ravenous or rabid coyote?

[theGinsue]

Since firearms are off the table, I'd go with bear spray versus regular pepper spray. They say bear spray has a lower concentration of capsaicin, but it's made to shoot longer distances - which is what you want with wild animals! Since animals have much more sensitive senses of sight & smell the capsaicin doesn't need to be as strong as for a human to get the desired effect.

[Wulf202]

Teach her about wind direction first

[Skip]

They usually attack in packs and will test their target first. So a good dose of bear spray might make a difference if done immediately.

We have a growing coyote problem here in the Ranch (city-ish). I don't understand why it shouldn't be legal to take these animals anywhere/everywhere near humans when safe. Two weeks ago a high school aged girl was walking her two large dogs a matter of feet from my house in our open space and was attacked. Even with the big dogs. She was knocked to the ground and thankfully not bitten but her dogs were hurt.

The bleeding hearts will still keep us from shooting them.

[ray1970]

Sheesh. I can hardly get a coyote to come within gunshot range. They tend to steer clear of humans. Just tell her not to let her dog too far out of sight and I'm sure she'll be fine.

[Richard K]

Sheesh. I can hardly get a coyote to come within gunshot range. They tend to steer clear of humans. Just tell her not to let her dog too far out of sight and I'm sure she'll be fine.

There have been cases in east Denver near I-25 and Hampden where dogs have been attacked while on a leash in broad daylight. At our other house in AZ they wander around the neighborhood in broad daylight. When I go out I carry a .45. Yeah, the coyote was attacking me not my dog officer.

[Mazin]

I wouldn't want one to get that close to deploy spray, but I don't have an issue carrying a handgun. I would suggest try talking her into changing her opinions on carrying.

[ColoradoTJ]

We have a neighbor who walks her small dog at night. The area consists of 35 acre plots and there are numerous coyotes. She will not carry a handgun and asked me about carrying mace or pepper spray. I can attest to it working well on most humans and dogs but I've had occasions where it failed to affect individuals with mental problems or were high on acid, meth etc.
What about a ravenous or rabid coyote?

No handgun huh? How about a shotgun? JK

One of my wife's good friends feels the same way about carrying a weapon on her person and has had two of her dogs taken by coyotes here in Colorado Springs (Skyway area). She carries bear spray now and has really scaled back on the walks at certain times. I talked to her about it and really pressed the issue about her safety (without pushing a gun on her). She hasn't lost a dog this past year, so that was good.

[Ah Pook]

Been hearing some good things about gel.

[Richard K]

Thanks for all the replies! To compound the issue there are no street lights in the area and the yotes could be on her before she's aware of them.
Same issue at our house in AZ, no streetlights because our subdivision is close to an observatory.