(meteorobs) Meteor Watching and Wild Animals

[pmartsching at mchsi.com]

 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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