Commentary: Coyote intrusion has us all closed up

My wife likes open doors and open windows. It’s one of our favorite things about Laguna Beach. She gets claustrophobic if there isn’t a window or door open, especially at night.

We will sleep with our French doors open even when it’s 45 degrees outside. That’s what she likes —open windows, open doors. At least up until Monday night at 7:45 p.m. when a coyote came into our bedroom through our open doors and took off with one of our three Chihuahuas.

I heard the dogs barking profusely — their standard behavior when a guest comes to the door. I was in the next room at the time and got up to go see who was at the door just in time to see the coyote racing out of our bedroom door with our sweet Eloise in his mouth shrieking for all she was worth. It was a sight and a sound I will not soon forget.

Of utmost concern, however, is the fact that we had our new infant granddaughter sleeping in our bedroom at the time. The animal could just as easily have taken her, and it makes me hope something can be done about this problem before something like that happens, not after.

For those who doubt that coyotes attack humans, Google it. You will find that 160 attacks have been documented — 35 in Southern California in the last few years.

So now what do we do? We have a coyote who knows two more easy pickings are waiting for him at any time at our house. I now have a sense of being watched at all times, so much so that one turn of the back, one door left absent-mindedly open, and we will be down to one dog.

What amounts to being held at siege is what is going on at this point on Oak Street. We are prisoners in our own home. We have been violated. A coyote has been inside my house. How can I ever feel safe again?

I know there are those who side with the coyotes. They are wild animals that have as much of a right to be here as we do. I understand that, but when the safety of my family is involved — when these wild animals are so unafraid of humans, and so bold as to enter my house to get what they want, they are no more coyotes who do what they do, they are thieves who kill by natural instinct.

In their natural habitat, that is entirely acceptable behavior. Here in town, that is a recipe for disaster.

We have a problem. Something must be done. Coyotes should not be here for the very reason that their natural behavior is a danger to our pets, our children and our neighborhood. They need to be removed. Preferably not euthanized, but caught and taken back to where their behavior is appropriate. We were not made to cohabit.

Meanwhile, we are all closed up in Laguna Beach, unable to enjoy what we love most about living here with open windows and open doors. I wonder if we will ever feel safe again.

JOHN FISCHER is a Laguna Beach resident.