Coyote's Coming in Contact with Humans

YORBA LINDA, CA - A coyote is sitting on top of a cinder block wall, across the lawn from Candy Julian's door, watching her family's two small dogs. They chased off the coyote with a shovel, but some people haven't been so lucky. They are losing cats, small dogs and fear for their children's safety.

On the east and northside of Yorba Linda is the home of wildlife. After last year's massive fire, along with the drought, the predators are now coming in much closer contact with humans.

As their natural food supply is diminishing, they're straying into the backyards and parks of the 65,000 person suburb, attacking dogs, cats, chickens and whatever they can sink their mouth into that draws blood. They also drink from an artificial lake that surrounds the homes.

Animal control officers are getting plenty of phone calls and street signs are becoming the norm for missing pets that were probably snatched up by the hungry coyotes.

The city has now set up a hot-line that receives around four calls a day reporting coyotes in their backyard, making off with their beloved pet.

The city hired a trapper, the cost $3,500 for ten days. They caught nine coyotes using scents to attract them, and they were later euthanized. Other cities hiring trappers include Huntington Beach and Los Alamitos.

Animal advocates and conservationists say this will not curb the population because the numbers will bounce back within the year. Some residents are complaining, calling the killings inhumane. Wildlife authorities are wondering if it's even worth the effort.

Development and wildfires have displaced the coyotes, and some people think the humans should adapt to the creatures, not kill them.

Julie Curran-Meskell, co-director of the Orange County People for Animals, opposes Yorba Linda's actions. She says, "This is their natural habitat, and people seem to be attracted to these areas for the beauty and for the nature, but they need to accept that wildlife comes with that bargain."

The City Council will meet this month to hear more stories from residents to consider the need for any additional coyote trappings and killings.

Field Director of the Humane Society of the US Urban Wildlife Program, Laura Simon, says the approach is a misguided, knee-jerk reaction. There are other alternatives, such as spraying the coyotes with water hoses or shooting them with rubber bullets. Simon also stated, "Lethal control should only be a last resort. If the habitat is not hospitable for coyotes, they're not going to come."

She also went on to say, "Coyotes are looking for small, easy prey, like mice, not infants. They're not the menace they're made out to be. It's the human fear factor that really creates this escalating panic in communities which leads to killing programs."

There were cases last year where several toddlers were attacked by coyotes in a Chino Hills park, across the hills from Yorba Linda. One baby-sitter had to rescue a two year old playing in a sandbox that was snatched by and coyote and carried away.


Although the state Fish and Game officials do consider the coyote to be a threat, they are busy dealing with mountain lions and bears, and don't have the manpower to respond, unless a coyote bites or comes after a human. That leaves the city officials to deal with the problem.