(meteorobs) Meteor Watching and Wild Animals

[Weaselwizard]

Hi All,

I live and get lucky when I can observe much from the bottom of a remote
canyon in the northern CA Sierra Nevada foothills.  We do have bear,
mountain lions, rattlesnakes, etc. around here.  We frequently carry
bear/lion spray with us, but are now starting to arm ourselves with
wasp/hornet spray because it is nasty, inexpensive and has a 20' +/-
shooting range.  This was recommended by one of our back country riding
groups.  But I would say your best defense is probably your dog who will
let you concentrate on the meteors while s/he stays quietly near you and
keeps an eye on your surroundings.  Mine do this for me all the time.

Wide clear skies,

Teri Faulkner


> [Original Message]
> From: al mitt <almitt at kconline.com>
> To: Global Meteor Observing Forum <meteorobs at meteorobs.org>
> Date: 11/1/2009 5:50:04 AM
> Subject: Re: (meteorobs) Meteor Watching and Wild Animals
>
> Greetings Dave, Paul and all,
>
> They sell bear/cougar spray similar to pepper spray only bigger can. I
use 
> this when out hunting meteorites or observing on my own. Cougars are
sneaky 
> and will stalk you so only effective if you can catch them before they 
> attack. I suppose you can be caught off guard when you are concentrating
on 
> counting meteors per hour or looking at the ground as you swing a metal 
> detector. Still a piece of mind having the spray though. Best!
>
> --AL Mitterling
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <pmartsching at mchsi.com>
> To: "Global Meteor Observing Forum" <meteorobs at meteorobs.org>
> Sent: Saturday, October 31, 2009 3:35 PM
> Subject: Re: (meteorobs) Meteor Watching and Wild Animals
>
>
> >
> > Dave,
> >
> > Probably there was something wrong with these coyotes.  At least one of 
> > them was "insane" or rabid or whatever.  In the case of bears, any food 
> > attracts them, more so if they are "garbage can" bears - accustomed to 
> > eating people food.  There are rare bad-tempered animals, which are
much 
> > more dangerous than usual for their kind.  Maybe keep a baseball bat
while 
> > observing?  or mace?  Mace might just make a bear madder.  So far in
this 
> > part of the country mountain lions are rare and they usually do not
attack 
> > people, but sometimes they do.  But there is some risk in every
activity.
> >
> > Paul
> >
> >  -------------- Original message from "David Oesper" 
> > <oesper at mac.com>: --------------
> >
> > The heartbreaking death of young Canadian folksinger Taylor Mitchell
from 
> > an extremely rare coyote attack this week makes me wonder what the
risks 
> > are watching meteors, alone, at night, on a lawn chair (prone and two
feet 
> > off the ground), in a remote area.  Are mountain lions, bears, wild
dogs, 
> > coyotes, etc. more likely to attack you in certain areas of the country 
> > under those circumstances?  Have any of you had (or heard of)
incidents, 
> > and do you take
> >> precautions?  Recommendations?
> >>
> >> Just curious.
> >>
> >> One more thing to worry about, I guess.
> >>
> >> Best Regards,
> >>
> >> David Oesper 
>
>
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