A coyote has taken up residence and raising pups in the Loch Lomond Marina wetlands and has already been spotted taking a neighborhood cat in the Chicken Point area of Bayside Acres (across the inlet from the Marina). In general, coyotes are roaming over all the Pt. San Pedro Road area. Wildlife removal/relocation is against the law in California so this coyote and others will be with us for a while. Here are some useful facts from Wildcare that may dissuade the coyote from becoming a problem in your neighborhood:
- Coyotes are attracted to food. Their favorite food source are rats. Rats hang around their favorite food source (garbage) and defecate there. Coyotes are attracted by rodent urine. So keep your garbage well sealed.
- Bird feeders attract rodents.
- Keep pets indoors especially dusk through dawn. However, be aware that coyotes will hunt during the day when feeding many pups.
- Coyotes don’t usually attack children but will snatch food from children so don’t let children outside with food.
- Coyotes will generally run away, but if threatened, they will stand their ground since their instinct is that an animal that runs away is ‘prey’.
- If a coyote does not give ground, make noise.
- The Wildcare Hot line is open 24 hours and they welcome calls at 453-1000 with concerns and questions.