Commentary: Look to garden for sign of coyotes

My home is in Top of the World and is very close to the 3,500-acre greenbelt/wildlife preserve. The deer and wild rabbit population have been decimated. Spring fawns and even larger deer have been consumed by an ever-growing coyote population. A doe that neighbors have seen nesting in various gardens, which is very uncommon, has not been seen of late.

Coyotes have no natural predators other than humans and maybe an occasional bobcat or mountain lion. The decimation of the deer population is very evident in my neighborhood, and here’s the proof: My giant agapanthus, on a gentle slope, with easy access by deer, have survived in full bloom. In past years, the buds on these plants were completely eaten by the deer. Additionally, rose blossoms close to roadways were eaten by the deer.

However, in the past two years, these roses have remained in full bloom. Wild rabbits, which could be seen all over in our gardens and in open landscapes, have totally disappeared. These animals, too, have been decimated.

Yes, the drought has had an impact, no doubt, but the coyote, unfortunately, is the real villain. Wild animals, as we all know, breed when the occasion arises, and increases in the population, with no natural intervention other than diseases, will force the supply of food sources to be rapidly depleted. Thus, coyotes will move closer to where humans live to find food.

It is indeed a pity what has happened. Many of us are full-on animal lovers with a total respect for the way nature works. However, what seems fair to one animal species may not be fair to others and causes humans to take action. All of this is truly a conundrum of unpleasantness. Nature, in all its beauty, can be a far cry from gentleness.

JIM GOTHARD is a Laguna Beach resident.