Wolves in Backyard

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Delgar

I'm glad everyone is having a good time even if its at my expense.

In the two pictures I would have guessed the lone one a coyote based on size and shape, the two, they looked more like wolves but they were also quite small. None of these were the two I saw this morning however, the bigger one in the morning was a different colour, had a brownish/reddish tinge and was, I think, far too big to be a coyote.

I may well have been wrong on identifying them as wolves, if the big one comes back I'll be sure to take a pic and post even if it leads to the potential of further ridicule. Enjoy @$$holes!

Calgary has had Cougars black bear, Lynx, Moose, Deer, Fox, Coyotes etc...

I would bet there are wolf as well especially in Fish Creek.

[jayswin]

Oh yeah, this incident aside there's definitely been wolves in the city, but they do stay further away on average than cougars and bears.

I think someone here posted video from a few years ago in Evergreen on the city's southwest edge of a wolf just chilling at an intersection. That one was pretty clearly a wolf, too.

Anyone near fish creek has the potential to see almost anything you'd find in the foothills/kananaskis area, as Fish Creek provides a perfect corridor for animals to wander really far into the city without even knowing it.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Delgar

I'm glad everyone is having a good time even if its at my expense.

In the two pictures I would have guessed the lone one a coyote based on size and shape, the two, they looked more like wolves but they were also quite small. None of these were the two I saw this morning however, the bigger one in the morning was a different colour, had a brownish/reddish tinge and was, I think, far too big to be a coyote.

I may well have been wrong on identifying them as wolves, if the big one comes back I'll be sure to take a pic and post even if it leads to the potential of further ridicule. Enjoy @$$holes!

Even if you are in fact wrong it's better safe than sorry so I wouldn't get overly upset about forum members having a little lighthearted fun. The pictures you attached while of poor quality looked like coyotes. The big brown/red one would be the one you would want to take a quality picture of and provide to animal authorities as well as here to redeem yourself.

At the very least it appears you have a coyote problem and it's good to let neighbors with small children or pets know that they shouldn't be left alone in yards or in the neighborhood.

[Kjesse]

I'm not upset at all, I find it funny too, though, pretty concerned having a nearly 3 year old who likes to play in the backyard.

[V]

We're surrounded by coyotes on my property, but we haven't really had an issue with the kidlets playing in the backyard. Out in the open it probably isn't an issue, but if they start wandering the woods alone too young they might find some trouble.

Biggest problem we have with them is that they seem to like our garden a lot. I didn't think that would be a coyote problem.

[Aeneas]

Originally Posted by Delgar

I'm not upset at all, I find it funny too, though, pretty concerned having a nearly 3 year old who likes to play in the backyard.

I am down the hill from you in Discovery and a pack of coyotes was often right behind our house. A sizeable green/wild space. Always at night though. I have seen them only rarely in the day time, usually making a dash across 69th or Glenmore.

I miss listening to them at night. It used to be a couple times a week now it is once every few months.

[V]

It's neat to hear them until they catch something right outside your bedroom window at 3am.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Slightly wildlife ignorant or not, that seems to be a nice backyard by Delgar there. High rocky slope leading to the fence, rest of it is probably decent too.

[Huntingwhale]

Wolves are the crackheads of the animal kingdom.

[MBates]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Even if you are in fact wrong it's better safe than sorry so I wouldn't get overly upset about forum members having a little lighthearted fun. The pictures you attached while of poor quality looked like coyotes. The big brown/red one would be the one you would want to take a quality picture of and provide to animal authorities as well as here to redeem yourself.

At the very least it appears you have a coyote problem and it's good to let neighbors with small children or pets know that they shouldn't be left alone in yards or in the neighborhood.

I am fairly confident Delgar is chuckling along with the crowd - especially over his photography skills. And having seen coyotes take down and kill a calf in an open field before he's not wrong to be concerned about them moving into his backyard where his kid plays.

Unfortunately shooting a pellet gun these days will likely get you proned out at the end of a machine gun from a Tactical team member (and its against a city bylaw). But other suggestions should work to "haze" them and make them leave:

http://www.coyotesmarts.org/what-to-do/

If they don't run away or become at all aggressive then Fish and Wildlife or even CPS should intervene at that point.

[Swift]

Has anyone noticed an increase in coyotes around here lately? Completely anecdotally, I've seen 3 in the last two weeks, whereas I'd previously only seen a handful in the decade since I moved here. One on my street in Canyon Meadows, one crossing Sarcee at Westhills and one crossing Hwy 66 close to Allen Bill Pond today. (Also saw my first black bear close to Elbow Falls yesterday)

[troutman]

There seem to be more gophers this year too, so perhaps Coyote and Gopher populations are cyclical and connected.

[shermanator]

If it makes you feel better, Delgar, I have cougars in my backyard. Of course, I live near The Trop so I've gotten used to the sight.

[Frequitude]

Fear not, Delgar. I'm not ridiculing you at all when I say that this has been a 5 star thread for entertainment value. I thank you good sir.

Please post more photos.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by shermanator

If it makes you feel better, Delgar, I have cougars in my backyard. Of course, I live near The Trop so I've gotten used to the sight.

Cougars at the Trop? No way!

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Originally Posted by Yellefan

Why are you taking these photos with a potato? I've seen clearer pictures of Bigfoot!

I'm still randomly chuckling out loud at this....

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Yellefan

Why are you taking these photos with a potato? I've seen clearer pictures of Bigfoot!

[Northendzone]

This could be one of the top threads of the year.

The comment on the photo being taken with a potato is easily the top question of the year - huge props to yellefan for asking it.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Slightly wildlife ignorant or not, that seems to be a nice backyard by Delgar there. High rocky slope leading to the fence, rest of it is probably decent too.

I'm pretty sure he actually lives at one of the new humane enclosures at the Calgary Zoo.

Edit: Upon further thought, possibly in or around the wolf enclosure.