Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] coyotes in Columbia?

[Michael <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

> We have raccoons any given night that come into our garage to clean up 
> any cat food that our two decided to leave in the bowl.  There's only 
> been a few times we heard hissing and fighting, but I think for the 
> most part the raccoons are just after an easy food score.  I've even 
> scared off a raccoon when it was eating the cat food, and our cats 
> were only a couple feet away and didn't seem too concerned.  Of 
> course, our raccoons are fairly plump, and don't look anywhere *close* 
> to starving.  That might be a different story.
>
> Opossums (and coons) are scavengers.  I doubt they'd go out to kill a 
> cat or dog, unless maybe they're rabid.  I can't find any supporting 
> info that says they are routinely aggressive to cats or dogs.

Both can be mean SOBs. They're scavengers but they'll kill and eat small 
prey too including some small pets. They will defend their territory 
too. I've never seen either attack a dog that wasn't bothering them but 
I've seen them attack cats. I know coons will sometimes attack dogs that 
are chasing them and I suppose either would attack a cat-sized small dog 
if they were hungry. Usually healthy adult pets are safe but it is a 
real risk. (I've kept raccoons as pets before and had friends that kept 
opossums as pets.. I've also had to break up fights between cats and 
opossums several times. Not exactly a definitive resource but I've had 
experience.)

-- 
Michael <EMAIL:PROTECTED>
http://kavlon.org

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