I think I saw a bobcat?

[onlyme]

Is there anything you can carry around with you to scare them off?

Maybe so; a fully sized adult might be less of a target, but in the incident I was referring to, a child was attached by a coyote. You tend to think of out West as where such attacks might happen, but we are more in central Canada.

 

[psalms 91]

They were once almost extinct but have made quite a comeback

 

[onlyme]

They were once almost extinct but have made quite a comeback

They certainly have!

Coyote is also the name given to people couriers who smuggle undocumented migrants; it's a name that has stuck; maybe because they are tenacious people who go through the desert, like the creature.

 

[onlyme]

I think in Australia the equivalent creature would be a dingo.

 

[MoreCoffee]

I think in Australia the equivalent creature would be a dingo.

Dingos are not extinct but their greatest danger is from interbreeding with domestic dogs gone wild.

 

[onlyme]

Dingos are not extinct but their greatest danger is from interbreeding with domestic dogs gone wild.

One of the hazards of the mysterious and fascinating Outback, maybe...

 

[MoreCoffee]

One of the hazards of the mysterious and fascinating Outback, maybe...

Dingos are handsome critters. Not entirely safe, not to be made pets, like wolves they are best free and wild.

 

[onlyme]

Dingos are handsome critters. Not entirely safe, not to be made pets, like wolves they are best free and wild.

So what did you make of John Howard's gun laws?

I guess that ppl who live in the Outback are inherently likely to need to have something to defend their families with from the hazards of wild animals.

But I guess there are various sides to the question.

 

[MoreCoffee]

So what did you make of John Howard's gun laws?

I guess that ppl who live in the Outback are inherently likely to need to have something to defend their families with from the hazards of wild animals.

But I guess there are various sides to the question.

The gun laws are state laws, John Howard facilitated creating uniform laws across all the states and territories. Personally I like them. In cities people rarely need a gun. Those who hunt or who need to dispose of dangerous animals are likely to own a gun and will have very little difficulty obtaining one legally. Naturally criminals obtain guns by illegal means. The theory that guns are an effective means of personal protection appears to be ill founded. If gun ownership is widespread and carrying guns is too then the likelihood of defending one's self effectively from another person who wishes to shoot you is very low. The fact is that aggressors always have the advantage with a gun because they shoot first and if their aim is accurate then their target is wounded or killed before they even know that they have an attacker.

 

[onlyme]

The gun laws are state laws, John Howard facilitated creating uniform laws across all the states and territories. Personally I like them. In cities people rarely need a gun. Those who hunt or who need to dispose of dangerous animals are likely to own a gun and will have very little difficulty obtaining one legally. Naturally criminals obtain guns by illegal means. The theory that guns are an effective means of personal protection appears to be ill founded. If gun ownership is widespread and carrying guns is too then the likelihood of defending one's self effectively from another person who wishes to shoot you is very low. The fact is that the aggressor always have the advantage with a gun because they shoot first and if their aim is accurate then their target is wounded or killed before they even know that they have an attacker.

Okay, thanks.

I heard that it all happened in Australia rather suddenly after a surfer type went bezerk.

 

[onlyme]

Dingos are not extinct but their greatest danger is from interbreeding with domestic dogs gone wild.

Also: aren't Tasmanian devils like smaller versions of the dingos found on the Australian mainland?

 

[MoreCoffee]

Also: aren't Tasmanian devils like smaller versions of the dingos found on the Australian mainland?

No. Tasmanian devils are not placental mammals while dingos are.

 

[onlyme]

No. Tasmanian devils are not placental mammals while dingos are.

Oh really? Thanks for pointing this out! So the Tasmanian devils are actually rather different, then.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Oh really? Thanks for pointing this out! So the Tasmanian devils are actually rather different, then.

Very different.

 

[onlyme]

Very different.

Thanks! You successfully managed to paste photos also; I tried unsuccessfully on another thread.

They look fine creatures, anyway. From and fauna and flora perspective Australia is quite remarkable, I think.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Thanks! You successfully managed to paste photos also; I tried unsuccessfully on another thread.

They look fine creatures, anyway. From and fauna and flora perspective Australia is quite remarkable, I think.

Oz is very different

 

[onlyme]

Oz is very different

I wish I could tour it and see those differences!

 

[MoreCoffee]

I wish I could tour it and see those differences!

God willing and you willing too - it is possible

 

[onlyme]

God willing and you willing too - it is possible

Yes, God willing and health permitting but first a rain check...

 

[MoreCoffee]

Yes, God willing and health permitting but first a rain check...

I'm told it rains a lot in Canada.