Coyote or wild dogs in Collin County - McKinney area

Had an interesting experience last night while "camping" with the family at a McKinney City park on the north side of highway 380.

We had a full day of a birthday party at the park with about 50 kids, 9 and under, and parents. Kids had the best time exploring and having fun without allow their electronic gear. When dark came, we had a great campfire going for s'mores, etc, so there was plenty of human activity and noise. A Boy Scout troop was camping on the other side of the park. Plenty of humans around.

Around 10:30 pm, the yotes started their hopping and harassing the cows in the pasture next to the park. They kept it up off and on for an hour or more.

Around 11:30, my wife wanted a blanket from her car, so I got up with my flashlight to get it. While out of the tent, I hear rustling in the tree line next to our tent site, about 50 yds from us, so I shined my flashlight over in the area and immediately there was a low voiced growl coming from the area. I didn't have a green light, just my mag light, so I couldn't see far enough into the trees to see what it was. I threw rocks and shined lights in the area, but it didn't deter the animal.

The animal staying around our camp site along with the bellowing of the cows in the middle of a night finally made us get up and leave. (10 mins to the house, fortunately)

Question is...the growling. I don't believe it was a coyote, because, from what I've experienced, they have a growl and yip combo, and typically are in packs. Correct?

This animal appeared to be alone and wasn't intimidated by me.

I don't get nervous around animals or in the wild, but this had me on edge, especially around a young family and my city girl wife.

I went through the list of animals that should be in the area and just can't figure out what it would be, other than a coyote or wild dog.

Any other possibilities?

I have half a mind to go out tonight, but this time with lights and something a bit longer range than my CC handgun and see if I can find it.

I was just reading elsewhere that hogs growl. Maybe??

Probably a wild dog!!! I believe yotes would be more inclined to leave when you shine a light in their direction!!!

Yeah...I shined truck lights, flashlights, and Coleman lantern, but it didn't scare.

If it was hungry, it would hang around and be even more dangerous!!!

bigfoot

BigPaw

Myers Park (used to be Erwin Park) is on the cusp of some serious coyote, bobcat, cougar (yes I wrote cougar) territory. I've hunted from 380 to County Line Road since 1995. Obviously there have been a ton of houses built over the last 20 years in Collin County, and therefore more dogs and cats in the area.
My bet is that was an agressive dog that wouldn't spook. I want to throw out a rabid coyote, but I'm not sure about that possibility.

Some folks think Collin County is all city now. I know better. You're never very far away from some type of predator. Good for you for having a firearm with you!

IMO based on the coyote problems I have almost every night these days I'd bet it was a feral dog growling at you in the dark, as they normally are more dangerous to people than 'yotes with their natural fear of Man having been lost in their mixed gene pool. Your CC is a good thing to have in that circumstance for sure...and one of the several reasons I keep a Benelli's magazine full of double ought behind the front door.

As far as a jump out at you rabid critter, be more concerned and aware of any unusual loss of fear of Man in the DAYTIME as the primary symptom of active tertiary rabies in possums/skunks/racoons/'yotes/known & unknown house cats and feral dogs.

BTDT and killed a rabid skunk years ago up close and very personally after an hour's worth of confrontation at under 30' that had invaded my Setters back yard Kennel to get at their water bowls...Carrollton PD & Animal Control had repeatedly refused to respond to my 911 Calls until my 2" S&W & it's JHP +P 110gr'ers spoke rather loudly between the 16' width between the brick walls of my & my neighbors house...and then they wanted to charge me with an Illegal Discharge after a ride to the Station House. I told them to get in my truck with the stinky arsed Bird Dogs that had been repeatedly sprayed by the dying skunk before Dr's Smith & Wesson had expressed my opinion.

An hour later I had a very interesting face to face "close as I could get to the *&^%$ conversation" with the Assistant City Manager, while leaning across his desk and pinning him against his credenza after I had taken the Setters to the Vet for a 3 day checkup & booster shots, and well before I got my own very necessary tomato juice bath's started. Don't miss Carrollton's Admin Little Tin Gods...and never got any admission's of municipal failure or apologies anywhere. Same thing 2nd Verse 3 days later when the School Janitors had to hold a rabid skunk at bay with push brooms while 600 kiddo's entered JHSchool one morning...and then let him go for lack of any Municipal response.

2am this morning, and 2 of 3 mornings last couple weeks during mating season, the song dogs running the COE creek in front of my house has aroused my 40 lb Brit Spaniel to shake the house with her imitations of an enraged 150lb Rottweiler. As per usual they split pdq with the liberal application of porch lights.

So the refusal to leave when hit with focused light and thrown rocks by a growling critter is potentially more serious than you might think, and cause for continued concerns in that after dark Park setting. JMHO
Cheers
Ron

I'm assuming no wolves here in the area. ??

If there are, they're either in captivity or were and got loose. The Yellowstone wolves havn't made it this far south...yet.

Lets hope not.

Or Bigfoot. Let him stay in Oklahoma!

No , coyotes don't always roam in a pack.
No , you didn't see a wolf.
No , city coyotes don't fear people or lights much.

I nearly nailed one the other night on Hardin about midnight. There are tons in the area but definitely aren't always vocal or scared of people.

Warewolves maybe!

I've seen a couple yotes off Hardin in between Virginia and 380

Coyotes all over/near my neighborhhood in Frisco..Coit & Main

I only hear them yippin about once a month and the dogs go nuts.

However i see some about once a week..usaully late morning 10-11 am.

I'd bet on the pig, I've had one growl or whatever it is called at me before. A large boar didnt like me being close to his feeder but wouldnt present a good shot. I saw 12-15 pigs rooting up the field at 380 and Ridge a couple weeks ago. I'm sure they are in Myers Park. It could be a yote i guess but I'm sticking with the pig theory.

I agree, I haven't seen many yotes hold their ground like that. A pig on the other would probably act like that. We're not short on them around here either.

I'm gonna feed some lead to some of those Collin county werewolves tonight and tomorrow