Coyotes on psychedelic mushrooms are staring down and attacking cars

Tuesday, February 09, 2016 by: L.J. Devon, Staff Writer
Tags: fly agaric mushroom, coyotes, strange behavior

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(NaturalNews) The Marin Humane Society of Western Nevada County, California, has been fielding calls concerning coyotes that are staring down cars and approaching passersby off Highway 1. The strange coyote behavior has been the talk of the county, especially at Beth's Community Kitchen in the Bolinas area.

Several reports indicate that a coyote is staring down vehicles as they make their way through the twisting, turning section near the Slide Ranch turnoff. The coyote will then reportedly "attack" the car, before trotting back off into the wilderness.

Some drivers see the coyote coming in advance, and stop the car on the highway, trying not to hit it. The coyote reportedly sniffs around the vehicle and then takes off into the bush. One local says the coyote stare-down has become a routine experience as he makes his way to the airport each week.

Lisa Bloch, director of marketing and communications for the Marin Humane Society says, "We are trying to figure this out." Some fear that the coyotes have rabies. "If this is going on longer than a week or so, then it's likely not rabies," says Bloch. "And we don't suspect rabies, just because it is pretty rare."

One possible scenario is that the coyotes are being fed by someone who drives on the highway frequently. Bloch says, "It's possible that someone was feeding him and thinking that it's cool, and magical and mystical to have a coyote eating out of his hand." One would think the coyotes would give up after unsuccessfully stalking several vehicles.

Another plausible scenario is that the coyotes are eating the hallucinogenic fly agaric mushroom (amanita muscaria), and acting out of character as a result. Lisa Bloch hasn't ruled it out. The coyotes could be tripping on the mushrooms, and be more willing to interact with people passing by. Bloch has cautioned dog owners to watch their animals closely to make sure they aren't tripping on the fly agaric mushrooms. If the mushrooms are not dried properly, they can be toxic.

The state of California says there could be up to 750,000 coyotes living in the wilderness. According to Bloch, no one should interact with the wild animals. "What this means is that basically we want the animals to be afraid of us naturally," Bloch says. "If they are not afraid of us, they come close to our cars, get hit, fight with domestic dogs and can possibly become aggressive."

Past traditions celebrated closeness to wild animals and revered the fly agaric mushroom

Many of our Christmas traditions come from cultures that were close to wild caribou (reindeer), and the hallucinogenic use of the fly agaric mushroom. In ancient, snowy Siberia (close to the North pole), the northern Tungusic people (also known as the Evenki), worked together in close knit communities where they herded reindeer. The reindeer provided them with clothing, milk, housing material, tools, transportation and spiritual inspiration.

The Evenki also believed in the shamanic journey or soul flight, and they used altered states of consciousness to connect with Spirit. One of the ways they celebrated this connection was through the fly agaric mushroom. The bright red and white to golden orange and yellow-capped mushrooms grow under certain kinds of evergreen trees. The amanita mushrooms possess psychoactive qualities, but are also very toxic if not dried properly.

Before gathering the mushrooms in sacks and carrying them back to the village on their reindeer-pulled sleds, shaman gatherers would dry the mushrooms out in the boughs of the evergreen trees. The colorful, rounded caps hanging in the trees must have inspired the modern day decoration of Christmas trees.

Oftentimes, the shaman would have to travel down villagers' individual chimneys to deliver the mushrooms, because the individual yurts were often snowed in. The Evenki would dry the mushrooms out further in socks that they hung next to the fireplace. The shaman would then demonstrate how to use the mushrooms for spiritual purposes. One of the common visions they experienced was flying. This is likely where the idea of flying and flying reindeer originated. (The also observed the reindeer eating the mushroom and then consuming their own pee.)

The original gifts under the Christmas tree were of spiritual nature – the fly agaric mushrooms. The Evenki's connection to the natural world and the wild reindeer goes beyond what we can fathom in modern day, consumerist America.

Sources include:

TheUnion.com

TruthTheory.com

PacificSun.com