This photo was taken on one of the few snow days we’ve had. It was during our first year in Arizona. I heard the coyote howling and I caught him on the wall behind our backyard. By the way, he was a big boy!

Wednesday morning, I drove first thing to the post office with my load of Frangos, plus to the hardware and grocery stores. I missed my early morning walk with my husband — who went without me. The weather had dropped to the 40s and 50s, so I knew I could walk when I was done with my errands. It wouldn’t be too hot!

If you haven’t read about my Frango project, you can read about it HERE.

I walked around our neighborhood listening to a podcast and all was well. I walked out of our neighborhood onto the main street, which has a nice sidewalk on our side of the street. I enjoy the walk because the nature’s preserve is across the road. The views are gorgeous.

I turned around to walk back toward our neighborhood. I was surprised by a big coyote who ran a few feet in front of me across the sidewalk to the other side of the street. I was in awe!

I thought about getting a photo, but then three more coyotes darted out behind him. Then two more. That made six coyotes.

They all stopped and stared at me.

Usually, I may see one or two coyotes and they take off into the preserve frightened. These six large coyotes were a pack and I did not scare them. I waved my parka back and forth in the air, stomped and yelled at them.

They didn’t budge. Then two more came out of the brush and across the sidewalk to join the pack.

I was trembling, trying to call my husband to let him know what was going on.

“Where are you?” he asked.

I told him exactly where I was.

“Stay in the car,” he advised.

“I’m walking and I’m alone!”

“I’ll pick you up,” he said.

Then a gardener’s truck slowed down and drove next to me. “Are you okay?” a man asked me.

“Yes,” I said, “I’m just scared.”

The men had seen the pack of coyotes and I appreciated them putting their truck between me and the pack. I told them my husband was coming to get me and they drove away. I was afraid to look back at the pack. I realized I had no way to defend myself against eight coyotes.

I was shaking like a leaf when my husband pulled the car to the curb. But I was safe.

I may think twice about walking out along the preserve by myself. I’ve walked there without worry for four years. The coyotes came from our neighborhood so that’s another thing to think about. I need to remember to carry my pepper spray. Another friend told me to walk with a golf club.

This is the first time I’ve been frightened by the wildlife in our neighborhood.

What would you do if you had a pack of coyotes staring at you?

Just to add to the fun, my husband showed me this scorpion in the garage!