South San Francisco, CA September 7, 2016 Submitted by YuSha Ng
This sweet kitty was almost dinner for a passing coyote in Westborough, so be sure to keep small pets inside at night. Photo: YuSha Ng
Dear Everything South City,
We saw coyotes last night and would like to share what we saw last night. thank you! ?
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Coyotes spotted in Westborough neighborhood, please keep your children and pets in secure area.
At 4:40am today (September 4, 2016) my husband and I heard weird sound from our backyard, and we found out there were a Calico kitty on our fence and two coyotes were searching in the garden.
The Calico kitty back legs were hurt, properly due to the coyotes, as we usually see her walking in the garden with good legs.
After those coyote walked towards the bus station on King drive, the kitty limped off to where she usually comes from and disappeared from my sight. My husband looked for her in the garden but he cannot find her, she sometimes relax on our fence and meow to our cat, we hope she is okay!
-YuSha
UPDATE: YuSha reported the next day seeing ‘the kitty back on her fence as normal, glad she’s ok!’
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ESC NOTES: We appreciate neighbor’s warnings and thank YuSha for alerting us all. We have quite a bit of information on our website on our local coyotes (CLICK HERE) , (including photos from other neighbors) and what to do about it. Recently the TerraBay neighborhood had a conversation about the coyotes in their area, noting the drought has caused them to come further down San Bruno Mountain. While the number of coyotes in our City seem to have increased lately, they have always been part of our natural neighbors and we can co-exist if we remember to heed some advice. We must remember that they feed on small game such as rodents which is a benefit to us, however they can not distinguish a squirrel from a cat, therefore us humans need to intervene for our pets safety and that of our coyotes.
From CA Department of Fish & Wildlife
Wild Animals Ruined, Even Killed, by People’s Carelessness
Wild animals are in trouble, and the problem is people who are careless with food and garbage.
Coyotes play an important role in the ecosystem, helping to keep rodent populations under control. They are by nature fearful of humans.
If coyotes are given access to human food and garbage, their behavior changes. They lose caution and fear. They may cause property damage. They might threaten human safety. They might be killed.
Relocating a problem coyote is not an option because it only moves the problem to someone else’s neighborhood.
Help prevent human-coyote conflicts.
“Coyote country” precautions
Never feed or attempt to tame coyotes. The result may be deadly conflicts with pets or livestock, or serious injuries to small children.
Do not leave small children or pets outside unattended.
Install motion-sensitive lighting around the house.
Trim ground-level shrubbery to reduce hiding places.
Be aware that coyotes are more active in the spring, when feeding and protecting their young.
If followed by a coyote, make loud noises. If this fails, throw rocks in the animal’s direction.
If a coyote attacks a person, immediately contact the nearest Department of Fish and Wildlife or law enforcement office.
Stash Your Food and Trash
Remove sources of water, especially in dry climates
Allowing coyotes access to human food and garbage is reckless and deadly.
Bring pets in at night, and do not leave pet food outside.
Avoid using bird feeders as they attract rodents and other coyote prey.
Provide secure enclosures for rabbits, poultry and other livestock.
Pick up fallen fruit and cover compost piles.
Ask your neighbors to follow these tips.
More on how to treat ALL Wildlife in addition to Coyotes
Keep Me Wild
Wild animals don’t need your handouts.
They need your respect.
You may not realize it – a simple bag of garbage, bowl of pet food, or plate of leftovers left outside your home or vacation site, can cause severe harm to wildlife.
Whether you live in a city or a rural part of California, wild animals are your neighbors. Most wild animals will not bother you. They naturally fear humans and keep their distance – so long as they remain fully wild.
But if wild animals have access to human food and garbage, they want more and more. They lose their natural fear of humans and can become aggressive.
If bears and other wild animals damage property or threaten human safety, they might be killed. Allowing wild animals access to human food is dead wrong.
Please – stash your food and trash.
Keep them wild.