Fisher Park Neighborhood Association

Coyotes In The Neighborhood?

Coyotes In The Neighborhood

Yes, Coyotes have been seen in all the neighborhoods in our area. Many residents of Orange County have expressed concerns about coyote sightings and the consequences of predator animals within the urban environment. Several residents have lost their pets to these skilled hunters because many are not aware of the recent coyote activities in the area.

Coyotes are found in ALL AREAS of Orange County. Contrary to popular belief, these animals do not require open space or “wild areas” to survive. In fact most coyotes within the urban setting are the offspring of generations of coyotes who live and flourish in the urban areas of Orange County.

Though these animals are far from domesticated, they are very comfortable living in close proximity to human beings. They have little fear of humans and are frequently seen trotting along within a few feet of joggers, bikers and horseback riders. While not normally a danger to human beings, coyotes will display defensive behaviors if threatened or cornered, therefore, it is important to leave a comfortable distance between you and a coyote.

Small pets can easily become coyote prey. Cats and small dogs should not be allowed outside alone, even in a fenced yard. It is highly recommended that small pets always be accompanied by their owner. Though coyotes generally hunt between sunset and sunrise, they can be observed at all hours of the day and will not pass up the opportunity for an easy meal. A dog or cat left in the backyard can be taken in a matter of moments.

Many steps can be taken to protect you and your property from nuisance animals like coyotes and other wildlife.

· Fence off animal enclosures
· Keep cats and small dogs indoors in the close presence of an adult
· Feed pets indoors
· Store trash in covered heavy duty containers
· Keep yards free from potential shelter such as thick brush and weeds.
· Enclose the bottoms of porches and decks
· Eliminate potential food and water sources such as fallen fruit and standing water.

If you do encounter a coyote that behaves aggressively, you have probably gotten too close to its prey or it’s family. Increase the “comfort zone” between you and the coyote. A coyote behaves in a similar way as a domestic dog that is defending their territory and family. Even a fully fenced yard will not keep out a hungry, athletic coyote. These animals are extremely agile and can easily scale any residential fence. All children should be taught from a very early age to avoid strange animals, whether domestic or non-domestic. They should never attempt to feed a wild animal. When older children are hiking or are playing in the parks, they should be instructed on coyote safety.

Eradication and/or relocate of the urban coyote are not effective. These programs actually provide a vacuum in nature, causing these animals to have even larger litters ultimately increasing the coyote population.

Practicing these defensive measures will minimize the nuisance and loss caused by urban coyotes.

If you would like more information, please call Orange County Animal Care Services at 714-935-6848

Villa Park - Past Efforts

Villa Park Will Try Making Coyotes Sick to Their Stomachs VILLA PARK, Posted 10:44 p.m. June 24, 1997

A university professor thinks he can keep coyotes from preying on pets by making them sick of suburbs - literally.

Aversion therapy is the latest idea in a perennial conflict with coyotes that has gone on since residential sprawl brought people, their pets and tasty garbage to what was once the coyotes' back yard.

Stuart Ellins thinks local coyotes will learn to stay away if dog and cat carcasses injected with lithium chloride are left for them to scavenge.
The substance, a salt will make the coyotes vomit for about 30 minutes after they've eaten, he says. They would also be lured to eat similarly laced hamburgers, hot dogs and other typical picnic foods.

The Villa Park City Council unanimously approved a plan Tuesday night to hire Ellins for $1500.

Villa Park, a two square mile city of about 6,400 near the hills of central Orange County, has had four or five calls a day to a coyote hotline.
Reports range from coyotes napping in back yards and drinking from swimming pools to incidents of dead or maimed dogs and cats. The coyotes apparently have turned their noses away from their regular fare of rabbits and rodents to attack domesticated pets.

The city came close to hiring a company to trap and kill the animals until officials stumbled on Ellins' idea.

The carcasses and food would be placed around a 10-acre riverbed where they coyotes' dens are believed to be located.

Coyotes would be taught "taste aversion" from eating the carcasses and "place aversion" from consuming the picnic food.

Ellins, who has researched coyotes for 24 years, says the therapy is better than the shotgun justice some residents favor.

"Personally, my motivation is to save these animals," said Ellins, a professor at California State University, San Bernardino.

Ellins said the technique was effective in Riverside and at Joshua Tree National Park, but animal control officials were skeptical.

"We have to be a little careful when we start assigning human characteristics to animals," said Orange County Animal Control Director Judy Maitlen. She said no carcasses from county facilities would be used.

James Haston, a resident whose tabby Scooter was killed in a yard surrounded by a 6-foot wall, was eager to help.
"If you were the kind of person that loves these little pets as much as you've loved a human child, and one day you find half of it, not even the part you can recognize, you'd know what people have gone through," he said.
"I stayed awake for a week with my rifle, waiting for a coyote to jump the fence again."