Eastlake Coyote Watch
Coyote Watch, Eastlake News Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
Brenda Coughlin, and her husband Matt, two proactive leaders of Eastlake Trails, began compiling data to assist local and state authorities determine the impact coyotes have had on the local community of Eastlake. What they discovered was that their unfortunate loss to their small dog from a coyote attack was not an isolated incident, but a rising problem that many Eastlake residents are concerned with.
Wildlife experts agree that coyotes play an important role in the ecosystem, helping to keep rodent populations under control. However when coyotes are given access to food, their behavior changes. Coyote attacks on humans are rare, and the recent coyote attacks in Eastlake may be indicative of rabid animals and/or wild coyotes being conditioned to human food. Residents should be aware that feeding wild animals is illegal in many communities and when humans feed coyotes, the wild animals lose their natural fear of humans and are more likely to pose a danger to humans.
[Wikipedia] Coyote attacks on humans are uncommon and rarely cause serious injuries…. However, coyote attacks on humans have increased since 1998 in the state of California. Data from USDA Wildlife Services, the California Department of Fish & Game, and other sources show that while 41 attacks occurred during the period of 1988-1997, 48 attacks were verified from 1998 through 2003. The majority of these incidents occurred in Southern California near the suburban-wildland interface.
Below is a summary of the recent attacks in Eastlake.
If you would like to report additional attacks, please call the 911 with an emergency and then contact the USDA Wildlife Service at 858/694-2518.
August 15, 2009
A dog was attacked by a coyote in broad daylight. A passing neighbor chased the coyote in her vehicle until the coyote dropped the dog. The dog has recovered after a critical surgery saved his life.
October 10, 2009
A coyote jumped into the backyard, attacked a dog and tried to escape over the fence. When it could not escape with the dog, the coyote ate the dog in the backyard, leaving a carcass in the backyard.
October 2009.
One man was walking his dog at night and was chased by 3 coyotes. He picked up his small dog and began walking faster to his home. The coyotes were 100 yards behind and started chasing the man and his dog. The coyotes came within 50 yards of the man before the man was able to get into his home.
October 16, 2009
A coyote jumped the fence in a backyard and took a small dog into his mouth. A 17 year old boy in the house picked up his baseball bat and chased the coyote around the backyard before the coyote dropped his prey and escaped by jumping over the fence.
November 8, 2009
Coyote entered garage and attacked resident’s dog. Resident chased the coyote around the garage before the coyote fled.
November 5, 2009
Resident reports seeing coyotes while walking large dog. Coyotes did NOT attack and ran the other way.
November 10, 2009
Eastlake Trails Resident reports a total of 6 coyotes while walking in the morning….the most he’s ever seen.
November 5, 2009
Resident reports spotting coyote approach front porch and reports missing dog. Cannot verify that coyote was culprit.
November 7, 2009
Eastlake Woods. Resident reports coyote enters backyard and ate small dog.
November 14, 2009.
Resident reports seeing coyotes in Rolling Hills Ranch.
November 16, 2009
Small dog was eaten by coyote. Coyote entered backyard at approx. 6:30 AM.
Coyote Prevention Tips: (as taken by CA Department of Fish and Game)
- If followed by a coyote, make loud noises. If this fails, throw rocks in the animal’s direction
- Be aware that coyotes are more active in the spring, when feeding and protecting their young.
- Do not leave small pets or young children outside unattended.
- Never feed or try to tame wild coyotes. The results could be deadly conflicts.
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Posted by Eastlaketimes on Nov 17 2009. Filed under Coyote Watch, Eastlake News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
This is problem and I don’t see any of our local leaders doing anything about it.
The incompentent homeowners assoc have once again proved their incompetence by sitting on their hands on this one.
Thanks again, Brenda, it is folks like you that make things happen instead of waiting for things to unfold. Hopefully, we can get this situation taken care of and go back to our lives.
Thanks Joe G. Its neighbors like you who keep our community communicating and safe. We need leaders to come forth and begin breathing new life into the association. I Learned last night that the HOA management finally printed something in their newsletter. I’m not sure if the newsletter goes out or if you have to retrieve it from their site. Just fyi.
Me again…I just checked out the website for the property management merritconnect and I only saw a one liner that said recent coyote attacks. Nothing about humans or anything. sooooo inadequate. I hope people will stay informed.
Does the HOA have a mission statement? I would suspect that their first goal would be to represent the public safety of their residents. Having been presented with overwhelming factual evidence provided by residential witnesses along with the expert opinion of the Dept of Agriculture representatives, I would say their innaction is nothing short of incompetence. This will hold up in any civil court. Here come the lawyers! Now that the HOA personally removed all the coyote warning posters, that will leave plenty of room for lawyers to post their own advertisments highlighting their litigation skills
Do you blame the hoa if your house is broken into? Should the hoa then provide police services? So then u sue the hoa for not proctecting u from burglars?
Mike,
Just this Monday, The HOA (Greens, Trails, Woods) had a public safety awareness meeting to discuss your very topic of break-ins. It was attended by probably 100-200 residents. The Chula Vista Police were also in attendance. It was held at the Greens Community Center. Seems like they addressed your very topic. I applaud them for their efforts on your discussion topic.
However, on the other hand, they have purposely draggged their feet on the topic of coyotes (another public safety item). They are the only remaining obstacle in concert with the management company that has not given the OK for the US Dept of Agriculture to come out and remove the threat. USDA is ready to come out anytime they give them permission. Seems like they are willing to move when it comes to the very issue you discuss. Why not address this other public safety concern?
I think the Board has to decide what to do and not the managment company, If the Board decides they want to trap and kill them, then the Mgmt company will do that for the board, So we all should go to the next board meeting to discuss this.
if any of the supposed “attacks” actullay did occur, that is unfortunate. however, one reason many like this community is because of its proximity and closeness to the open wildreness. as such, we must adapt to living with wildlife as it must adapt to us.
My home is on Table Rock Ave in Eastlake Trails North. On Sunday night January 3 between 7:-730 pm a coyote jumped my wall and took my small dog. All three of my dogs are let out every night around that time for about 15-20 minutes to poop and pee. Had I known about the recent incidents going around I could have prevented this heartbreaking incident. I know it happened because there are paw marks on my wall showing where the coyote jumped in and paw marks where it went out. It is so absurd that the HOA did not post warning signs that these incidents are actually happening. Not everyone reads the newsletter or goes into the
website. When I called the HOA to report my incident and
expressed may concern and anger that this was not done Mr Rigley
or whatever his name is said it was not their job to hold our hand
On Thursay nigh January 7 the mexican station channel 12 had a news report on these coyote incidents in Eastlake. I called today to information and they told me the Chula Vista Police dept has given them the information. I would like to speak to Brenda Coughlin.
@olga:
test test
@Anonymous:Anonymous is obviously misinformed and uneducated in the area of urban coyotes. Thanks for your input. How about putting your name to some action instead of just spouting about something you know nothing about.
My name is Marissa and I live in Otay Ranch community. On Sunday, June 13, 2010, we found out 2 chihuahuas dead and decapitated in our backyard and missing the other 3 chihuahuas. We notified out HOA security guard and advice to call animal control. We have to wait until the following day since it was Sunday. When the Animal Control personnel came, he stated that the way they died and decapitated, they were attacked by the coyotes and possibly that the other 3 chihuahuas are dead or taken by the coyotes. The fact that we have high fences, don’t live near canyons, we have houses behind/besides us, coyotes still attacked our house. it is very scary and seeing our pets attacked that was way was very traumatic. We started seeing coyotes all over Chula Vista, yet we really can’t do anything with them. Just sharing this story to make all residents be aware especially with pets and small children.
Sorry to hear of your loss.
You should check out the Coyote Roller
http://www.eastlaketimes.com/1017/eastlaketimes-interviews-coyote-roller-founder-bob-owens/
@Marissa Marquez:
Marissa I am so sorry. I am still grieving the loss of my cherised yorkie. Like you I do not live near canyons and my wall is about 5 1/2 ft tall. I felt my dogs were safe inside my walls, but coyotes I later learned can jump a 6 foot wall like nothing. My incident is listed with a January 8, 2010 date. I also want to let you know that a coyote was in my front yard about 4 weeks after my dog was taken. It was around 6:00pm. It knew there were more dogs and it probably came back for more.