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Post by francegarden on Jul 29, 2009 17:38:13 GMT
I could not believe my eyes last night when, walking along by the river with my dog, a coypu emerged from the reeds - walked up to my miniature schnauzer - and they stood and looked at each other and sniffed noses!!! I almost thought the coypu was going to attack the dog, not that they are known for being aggressive.
Then my dog moved a little and then the coypu ambled off - not in any great hurry - into the river.
I think my dog was completely stunned by the encounter and started looking everywhere for the coypu.
I was so annoyed that I did not have my camera with me - it would have been a great photo.
Has anyone else's pets had strange encounters?
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Post by snowowl on Jul 30, 2009 15:23:15 GMT
Hi FG forgive my ignorence but what is a coypu.?It sounds like a snake but i may be totaly wrong.
I wish you had got a photo it would be amusing to see. ;D
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Post by snowowl on Jul 30, 2009 15:26:26 GMT
Just googled it and its a large rodent :its a good job they dont attack or your dog would be missing a nose now.  |
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Post by Chuckles on Jul 30, 2009 19:47:56 GMT
They are lovely things FG, I did have to look them up but aren't they so cute www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th1f.htm never knew we had them in the UK. Can't think that my dog gardenworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=pets&action=display&thread=1262 has had any strange encounters. When I first got the chickens they had a few pecks at her as she walked by them in the garden ;D Like the coypu she just ambled off ;D, she is so dosile and friendly and has never bothered with them. They all mouch about together in the garden and she'll even leave her food if they come to her when she is eating and lets them eat it. |
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Post by nightowl on Jul 31, 2009 8:20:46 GMT
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Post by snowowl on Jul 31, 2009 12:47:00 GMT
I am not sure NO with a namelike francegarden i thought she was in France  |
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Post by nightowl on Aug 1, 2009 8:25:43 GMT
I assumed that as well SO, but she doesn't say  |
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Post by maggy on Aug 1, 2009 15:47:52 GMT
Well I know I saw these in France on a pond I thought at first they were water rats they dissapeared but we stood and waited and saw them again they were very shy! Im glad I can now put a name to them. |
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Post by francegarden on Aug 1, 2009 19:09:06 GMT
Sorry - I have not looked at the post for a couple of days - so did not realise there was interest in it.
Yes - I do live in France - in the Loire Valley north of Tours.
Coypu - as someone said - are large, docile rodents - originally from South America.
Like mink, they were introduced for their fur - called nutria.
Some escaped - all over the continent and in England.
They were eradicated in East Anglia and are regarded as a real pest here because they erode river and lake banks with their burrows.
I think they are charming but the French hate them - over 3000 were culled in this department (like a county) alone a few months ago, but they keep coming back.
My dog looks around for her new friend every time we go past where they met. I can't get over how "cool" the coypu was when he met my dog!
She is not afraid of anything and has sometimes chased my neighbour's huge charollais bull - that used to be the job of schnauzers - herding cattle. He just looked at her as though she was mad and then also started running too - and, my god - from a standing start - could he move! Made me realise I wouldn't stand a chance if he decided to chase me - there was only a slim wire fence between him and me. Luckily, he is extremely docile - or so my farmer neighbour tells me. he just shouts at the bull and smacks its rump. Sooner him than me.
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