-Coping With Urban Coyotes-
Coping with the Urban Coyote in L.A. County

Reprinted from the County of Los Angeles Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures web site. For the full article, go to http://acwm.co.la.ca.us/scripts/coyo.htm

Everyone enjoys observing wildlife in its natural environment. However, many well-meaning residents of urban hillside and rural areas have promoted an unnatural boldness in coyotes by intentionally or unintentionally feeding them.

The highly adaptable coyote is flourishing in populated areas, mostly because of the interesting menu available in the form of handouts, dog and cat food, or easy-to-open garbage cans.

The animal Mark Twain called "the most friendless of God's creatures" is also the most adaptable. Coyotes can survive on whatever food is available, from rodents to rubbish, from insects to fruit to carrion. They can also be a threat to family pets, and, in isolated but tragic cases, have attacked small children.

Essentially unimpeded by control measures, abundant food has encouraged coyotes to become accustomed to the sight and sounds of humans. Consequently, coyote populations and range have expanded enormously in recent years. There are more coyotes now than ever before in history!

Where other natural predators have retreated, rats, mice, and other small animals have increased. In such a situation, the coyote is beneficial, if residents wouldn't provide them with even more convenient meals.

How do I know if I have seen a coyote?
This native member of the dog family closely resembles a medium-size German shepherd dog except it has an elongated snout and bushy, black-tipped tail, which is carried down as it runs. There are thousands of coyotes in Los Angeles County consequently sightings are common. The coyote's larger relative, the wolf, does not occur anywhere in Los Angeles County. At night, the coyote's high-pitched, yodel-like yapping can frequently be heard - especially following the sound of emergency vehicle sirens. Coyotes frequently make a sound far different from the Hollywood movie stereotype. Many people who are unfamiliar with their almost hyena-like yapping incorrectly think they are hearing animals being killed by coyotes at night.

For the rest of this article, go to http://acwm.co.la.ca.us/scripts/coyo.htm

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