COYOTE INFORMATION

IF YOU LIVE IN THE LA HABRA OR LA HABRA HEIGHTS AREA THIS INFORMATION MAY PERTAIN TO YOU.

The area we are referring to is the area from the corner of Whittier Boulevard and Harbor Boulevard.  Apparently, they live right up around Harbor Boulevard/Fullerton Road and come down to hunt.

If you have questions,  please write to Dawnie at Duranie@dslextreme.com.

  We have had to deal with this problem for a while.  There is a very large pack of coyotes that live in the area and are often seen from right before sundown to sunup.  The pack is approximately six to eight coyotes strong and are extremely aggressive and often walk down the street with no fear of cars or oncoming traffic.  I have sat back and watched them kill neighborhood cats and small animals for too long.  All of our neighbors are tired of finding cat and dog parts in their front yards torn to bits.

The authorities give 101 reasons why they can't do anything, and then when people witness their temperaments and behavior and try to explain to authorities why they are so dangerous, we are called liars.  This has been in the back of everyone's mind for a while.  These animals are defying what authorities are saying are the norm for them, which is why we believe they are so reluctant to do anything.  We all understand we are in their habitat.  We all understand they were here first.  But when family animals are playing innocently in their own fenced back yard and are attacked and killed, you want something to be done.  You don't want it to happen again.

NOTE:  They are using peoples backyards as run-ways. They are in our back yard at least once a night every night.  They scale our 7 foot fence and run through our back area, which holds our pool and waterfall and scale another two fences before they end up in a neighbors yard where they jump from yard to yard looking for food. They have done this while I have personally sat watched one night while sitting relaxing on our patio.  They knew I was there, in fact, they got a little too close for comfort.  But whatever the case, they had no fear of me. 

Another evening a few weeks later, after a date, my brother called me to tell me I needed to get dressed and go with him.  He drove me up the street, where we watched a total of six coyotes, that we could see, running up the street.  They were not afraid of my brothers truck, which had a large muffler and made a lot of noise.  In fact, they looked very organized as we watched two jump into one neighbors yard and two others jump into another neighbors yard.  Thankfully, we heard nothing about any attacks. 

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING. 

ONE OF THEM LOOKS LIKE A VERY LARGE SHEPARD IT IS GRAYISH, TAN COLOR AND LOOKS LIKE A SHAGGY COYOTE.  HE IS EXTREMELY LARGE AND NOT AFRAID OF PEOPLE AT ALL.  HE MAY EVEN BE A WILD DOG.  HE HAS BEEN SEEN DURING THE DAYTIME AND HAS BEEN WITNESSED STROLLING DOWN THE STREET AND STALKING YOUNG CHILDREN AS THEY PLAYED.  THE ADULT THAT WITNESSED THIS CHARGED THE ANIMAL AND FOUND HIM TO NOT BE SCARED OR INTIMIDATED.   TO KEEP ANYTHING FURTHER FROM HAPPENING, SHE GRABBED HER LITTLE BOY AND RAN INTO THE HOUSE, ONLY TO HAVE THE ANIMAL FOLLOW HER UP TO THE FRONT PORCH AND THEN PEE IN FRONT OF HER PORCH AREA, WHILE SHE WATCHED AND YELLED AT IT TO GO AWAY.  

(I WAS TOLD BY AUTHORITIES, THAT COYOTES DO NOT MATE WITH OTHER SPECIES.  BOTH MY FAMILY, AND I AS WELL AS OTHER NEIGHBORS HAVE FOUND RESEARCH THAT STATES OTHERWISE.)

Thankfully, some people realize that these wild animals are jumping into their yards and keeping their animals and small children in after dark, as well as any food for backyard dogs.  Recently a few of the neighbors have talked about putting barbed wire up.  We are at the point now as well. For now, we stand outside with our animals when they have to go to the bathroom at night and early morning and stand watch with a baseball bat.   

***We are also informed that if we hurt a coyote, even if it is hurting one of our animals we can be brought up on charges.***

A year ago, I went out to go to work to find a neighbors dog, literally torn up on our neighbors lawn.  This little guy had been attacked by what witnesses say were at least four coyotes.  Unfortunately, since the little guy had been known as a "roamer" or a dog that would often roam the neighborhood, the authorities told me that they would not be able to do anything about the attacks until they started jumping fences and attacking animals in backyards.  They told me to call back when that happened. (Compassionate? I think not.)

They are NOW jumping fences and FULLY attacking small animals.  We have small animals and anyone else who has them should be watchful of them especially if you live off of the street called Concourse in La Habra, as they use the back ravine to jump fences and grab small pets. 

Recently, we had a little one taken by a coyote.  A neighbor who was outside at the time, witnessed the coyote running down the street, with the little one in his mouth.  She screamed and tried to charge him to scare him, but the animal was not phased and continued on his path a few hundred yards away, he began to eat the little one, while the neighbor watched helpless.  the animal took the little one to the same yard that the first neighbors dog had been taken to.

The owner ran out of the house to find where he had taken her.  Both her and her son and my dad all witnessed this large animal beginning to eat the little one on the neighbors yard.  My dad yelled and shook his keys, the son and my dad both tried to charge him.  The owner of the little one, screamed and fell to her knees.  She was heartbroken.  (Wouldn't you be?)  I came out of the house around this time, to see all three of them yelling at the animal within 10 feet of it, and it showing no fear from the three grown adults and their yells.  The animal suddenly became distracted but we have no idea by what.  He turned on the woman, who was screaming at it to leave her dog alone. 

The large coyote, began to advance on her.  It was very clear that something was about to happen.  The woman threw her water bottle at the animal and it didn't deter it at all.  It kept advancing on her.  My dad and her son screamed and yelled and finally the animal who was in a 5 to 8 foot distance of her finally walked calmly away. 

After a few minutes, my dad went to find something to help place the little one in.  I sat and watched.  I finally turned to go in to try to call the authorities about this attack.  This was not a normal attack.  This animal was not afraid of people.  I went to walk inside and noticed the coyote walking calmly up the street.  I then saw him veer off and circle around the owner and her son while they cried and waited for my dad to bring something for them.  Again no fear.

I was told by the authorities that "Coyotes don't jump fences".  This one did.  I was also told that "coyotes don't hunt at 6:30 a.m., that they are usually in their dens by then".  This one did.  I was told that "coyotes are skittish and will run from people".  This one did not.  I told the man I spoke to that this was very different attack.  Something needed to be done.  I told him I guess we just needed to tell neighbors to watch their animals and stand guard with a baseball bat or something.  I was then told we could be brought up on charges if we hurt a coyote even if it was in our backyard hurting one of our animals.  Then I was told that if the Department of Fish and Game for our area, came out, they would not trap and release they would come out to kill the coyotes.  I was then told by the person I spoke to, that I "must not be a animal lover if I am campaigning to get these coyotes killed".  Sickening, isn't it.

I was informed that I needed to leave a message with the Department of Fish and Game for our area, which is located in San Diego.  Even though I was told it was located in Long Beach.  I have left three messages with no call back.

I decided to go by foot and try to warn neighbors.    I went around on foot and tried to warn neighbors who all expressed their worry and disgust and wanted something done.  I am now unsure how to move forward.  Possibly a petition, possibly more telephone calls.  I am always up for ideas.

I am currently, try to get someone to call back so I can get some general information on what they need from us as a neighborhood to stop these animals from hurting our animals in our fenced backyards and possibly our children or even grown adults.  These animals patterns have changed and need to be watched.

PLEASE BE CAREFUL AND WATCH.

IF THERE IS ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, OR IDEAS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

DAWNIE at Duranie@dslextreme.com.

RIP- GRACIE 2007