Aggressive Coyotes Evade Traps in Neighborhood

Traps set up in back of a neighborhood here this week have so far failed to capture the one or two aggressive coyotes that experts believe are responsible for attacking a 5-year-old girl and for killing family pets, including six cats and two dogs.

Crews from Animal Pest Management Services, the Chino-based company hired by city officials to catch the coyotes, spotted one of the animals Monday in the back yard of a home, but were unable to capture it, said San Clemente Fire Department spokesman Jack Stubbs.

“We’ve had no further sightings since then, but I don’t think that means the coyotes have abandoned the area,” Stubbs said Friday.

Six coyote attacks were reported within city limits last month, including a May 16 incident when a girl was nipped by a coyote that ventured into her back yard in broad daylight.

All of the attacks took place in the north San Clemente community of Forster Canyon. The community, which is three miles inland, is within half a mile of the county’s Prima Deshecha Landfill. The landfill attracts coyotes and other scavengers, city officials said.

Officials said they are confident that the coyotes can be found since the attacks were limited to one area.

“This seems to be an isolated situation,” Stubbs said. “It’s almost a neighborhood problem. These animals are extremely bold. The coyote is usually thought of as a nocturnal animal, but these are coming out in broad daylight.”

On Monday, crews were setting up traps when they spotted one of the animals. They were able to photograph it, but chose not to shoot the coyote, because the back yard of a home was in the line of fire, Stubbs said.

Meanwhile, city officials visited homes throughout the neighborhood this week to distribute a flyer detailing several safety tips.

The flyers ask that residents not disturb any of the traps, keep their children out of greenbelt areas of the housing tract and bordering areas, not leave pets outdoors at night and keep garbage can covers sealed tight.

Residents are also being asked to report any coyote sightings or any coyotes that they see caught in the traps by calling the city’s Animal Services Division at (714) 361-8205 or the Emergency Dispatch Center at (714) 361-8201.

“If we have the eyes of this whole neighborhood working for us, it’s going to help us pinpoint the situation a lot better,” Stubbs said.

The flyer states that as soon as the attacks are brought under control, the trapping operation will be stopped. The operation involves the trapping and relocation of the coyotes, and killing them only as a last resort, Stubbs said.

San Clemente is paying the private company $750, plus $100 for each coyote caught.

Fire Marshal Robert Meyer said that the city would like the company to capture at least eight to 10 coyotes.