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Overly aggressive coyote shot at ski area

By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published February 13, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.

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Tyler Buck, 13, of Highlands Ranch, had a close encounter with the coyote while snowboarding at Copper Mountain. "I was only 4 or 5 feet from the animal," he said. "The coyote was fat, really big and didn't seem to be afraid of people."

Photo by Beth Buck / Special to the Rocky

Tyler Buck, 13, of Highlands Ranch, had a close encounter with the coyote while snowboarding at Copper Mountain. "I was only 4 or 5 feet from the animal," he said. "The coyote was fat, really big and didn't seem to be afraid of people."

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A young coyote that was nipping at the boots and parkas of skiers at Copper Mountain grew increasingly aggressive last week and was killed by a Division of Wildlife officer on Saturday.

"I don't remember the last time we've had to do that at a ski resort," DOW spokesman Randy Hampton said Tuesday.

Coyotes usually leave humans alone, but it's not a surprise that one could turn aggressive, especially if skiers were feeding it.

"It was hanging around under the lift, so we think people may have been throwing food to it," Hampton said.

Tyler Buck, 13, of Highlands Ranch, said he was going over a jump when he saw the coyote below. He "didn't seem to be afraid of people," Tyler said.

The coyote nipped at a ski boot and tore the ski jacket of a youngster over the previous few days, so officials didn't want to wait until closing time Saturday to act. The area was cleared and the coyote shot with a rifle. The coyote appeared healthy, but it will be tested for disease.

Comments

  • February 13, 2008

    1:46 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Theoldguy writes:

    My son used to play with a young, wild coyote at 113th and Pecos about 10 years ago. We encouraged him to stop. The Northglenn Animal Control folks eventually got hold of him (the coyote, not my son). Shortly after heart surgery (about a month)I used to run after coyotes in the open space next to the house. Talk about having a concerned look on one's face. The animals are all around town. They eat the dog food left outside. Foxes jump very silently and are very quick. Raccoons are common also. A family group uses the storm sewer just south of a park (I'm won't give the exact location, but the residents are very familiar with this group of raccoons). Just speak softly and carry a big stick. No need to go out of town to see wildlife, just know when and where to look.

  • February 13, 2008

    1:52 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Theoldguy writes:

    On another occasion I used to eat lunch at 120th and Pecos and watch the coyotes watch the afternoon joggers. There was a low spot in the weeds and I ate lunch while watching the coyote. After a jogger ran past, the critter looked to see if the area was clear and walked back along the shallow ditch. No one ever noticed the coyote. A few months later it was run over on 120th. Too bad, if it had made it through "The Ranch" it would have had a great time along the east-west greenbelt south of 112th. Lots of good quality dog food fed to pets. Kitties too.

  • February 13, 2008

    4:08 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Scott writes:

    Theoldguy,

    Were you an employee of the old Western Electric or Bell Labs?

    The old Western Electric building, not that ugly glass thing, use to have a family of red foxes living in a den by the flag pole. The foxes would help keep the rabbit population in check. I also noticed red foxes in, what was, the empty field south of the Rancho Pukos apartments.

    Scott