Originally Posted by
fishboat
Ahh..not sure where that is coming from..possibly from backpacking newbs. That's just asking for a problem..and if it does occur the person risks injury & possible death, while the animal, if it's tracked down, will certainly die. Rather a dumb practice on all levels.
As for the eastern attack/death of the hiker. The coyote was actually a "coy-wolf". Coyote/wolf hybrid. In years past they would never mate..for some reason they are beginning to. The result is a more aggressive coyote. That attack, I think, is the only documented case of a "coyote" attacking a human. Coywolfs are limited to eastern North America for the moment.
The animal that attacked Taylor Mitchell was a coyote not coyote/wolf hybrid. It does appear to have been pack behaviour.
There was speculation by wildlife experts that Mitchell might have initiated contact by trying to feed coyotes or by disturbing a den with young.
[8] Various other proposed explanations were the coyotes might have been wolf crosses, rabid, immature, starving or protecting a carcass.[8] None of these suggestions were subsequently borne out, causing a reassessment of potential risk to humans from coyote attacks. It was also thought by experts that Mitchell may have inadvertently provoked a predation behaviour by running away, though a coyote may have been behind her when she was confronted by the oncoming ones.
[8][14][17][18]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Mitchell
This idea about sleeping with your food in bear country is nuts. Please do not promote.