Can Humans and Coyotes Coexist?

Coyote sightings in Granada Hills and Woodland Hills exemplify how the territorial lines separating wildlife from residents in hillside areas have blurred.

As developers push deeper into the foothills to build subdivisions, coyotes have moved into populated areas to seek food and water. These urbanized coyotes are at the center of a debate between animal rights activists and homeowners who disagree over how best to protect man and beast and the role of government in both cases.

KARIMA A. HAYNES asked several community members about possible solutions.

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MIKE WINIKOFF

Program director, Ark Trust animal

protection organization; Calabasas

We have to recognize that they were here first, and if we choose to move into their homes we have to live with them. Cities should do more to protect coyotes from humans, not the other way around.

I live in Calabasas, and I am watching this beautiful hillside along Las Virgenes Road be wiped away for new homes. There are lots of coyotes in those hills. We used to hear them howling every night, and we fell asleep listening to them. There is less and less howling now that the construction is going on.

Cities should stop development where it is now. We really don’t need any more urban areas. Cities can set aside certain areas and preserve them as wildlife habitats. Coyotes have no place left to go. Their habitats are disappearing.

People think they have a natural-born right to live anywhere they choose. People don’t even think of the rights of the animals that already live there.

We are destroying so much wildlife on our planet. Children are going to have to watch old films to see what these animals looked like, which is a shame.

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MARILYN BARTON

Homeowner, Northridge

I am one of those people who believes those coyotes should be removed immediately. There are at least four coyotes that have been seen in [my] neighborhood or walking into Dearborn Park, which is really scary because children and pets are in there.

About 130 neighbors signed a petition and sent it to Mayor Richard Riordan asking him to do something to get rid of the animals.

We were here first, not the coyotes. We are 7 miles from hills, near Cal State Northridge. We are in the flatlands. The coyotes are here because they are not being trapped and moved out.

What infuriates us is that people are being told to license and neuter their pets. Yet these wild creatures are allowed to walk across our lawns, drink out of our pools and leave ticks, fleas and whatever else they have in our yards.

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CAPT. LOUIS DEDEAUX

Wildlife specialist, Los Angeles

Department of Animal Services

All the city can do is continue to do what it has been doing, which is to educate people. Coyotes are predators, opportunists, and they will eat small pets.

If you have a home garden make sure to harvest your vegetables; don’t let fruit ripen on trees and fall to the ground because you will attract coyotes. Be aware that woodpiles attract mice and rats. The rodents [attract] opossums and raccoons. . . . Then the coyotes go in there to get the opossums and raccoons. Residents should fence their yards, cover pools, put trash can lids on tightly and fix leaky [outdoor] faucets. Keep pets inside and watch your children. Early morning and dusk are when [coyotes] are out hunting, but you need to be careful all day.

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SUSAN STEELE

President, PRIDE, a West San Fernando Valley homeowners association;

Chatsworth

For years, I have seen coyotes in Porter Ranch, Chatsworth and Northridge. Now that [developers] have plowed the hills in Porter Ranch, the coyotes will have to move farther north or come down out of the hills to look for food.

The city ought to quit allowing developers to urbanize every piece of open land. There is some charm to wildlife. All this pavement is not charming at all.

People have a right in this country to do whatever they want to do with their private property as long as it is not illegal. But I have a problem with the density: We are cramming so many people into one space. The city should be working to improve the downtown area, instead of allowing developers to go out and mow down the mountains.