coyote sightings? (San Diego, Escondido, Santee: houses, buy, safe)

[1AngryTaxPayer]

They are the same critter just one lives where it is colder so more fur. We have Foxes that can look pretty plump in the winter but they are'nt very big.

[worldlyman]

I've seen them twice near Paradise Valley Road when I used to live in the San Diego area. One was carrying off a black cat, could see the meat coming out of the neck. Coyotes are highly intelligent, studious and conniving. In a sense, they do help keep down a stray cat population that eats too many songbirds.

[ps16]

I was out on an afternoon hike with a friend on the trail around Lake Hodges in Escondido when two coyotes pranced across the trail in front of us. They were heading in the general direction of the lake, and were not even 15 yards away from us. I had my German Shepherd with me. We stopped and I pointed out the coyotes to my friend. They stopped and stared. My dog noticed them (first time in all the times I have been with him and seen them). He did not react as he would if it were a loose dog, but he did start to whimper shepherd style. This was my closest encounter, to be sure.

I had just read an article about coyotes that morning. One thing it said to do was to wave sticks, make loud noises, like what they say to do when you see a Mountain Lion. The article talked about how coyotes have gotten bolder around people, and it is good to try to scare them, and not turn your back on them. I was not too worried with it being only two coyotes, but I was concerned there could be more in the bushes. I yelled in a deep voice and the smaller one ran into the woods. The bigger one started off, then stopped and gave me a stare down. I felt I had no choice but to make more noise, I even threw a dirt clod that hit a tree not far from the coyote. He flinched a bit, but just stared, then finally turned and went on. We were so close to the lot where our car was that we hurried on the trail. When we got to the car, we heard several yips coming from the woods. I guess the coyotes found something they were happy about.

I actually wish I had had my camera, because these were beautiful animals...just like the picture that 1AngryTaxPayer posted previously.

I do find it disconcerting that it was not even dark, although the sun had gone below the skyline of the hills, but these guys were out and seemed to have little fear. Not the skittish animal I have seen in other wilderness settings. So I am spooked again...and will need to be very careful about when I walk on that trail. I thought the sunlight hours were safe hours. Several years ago I used to bike the trail around the same time of day, but the bike was much faster...and with the dog now, I really want to walk places and not have to worry too much about getting attacked.

Today I also learned more about the coyotes that live along the north county rail trail near my house. Neighbors told me that there have been packs of coyotes along those tracks for many years. It's amazing to me since the trail runs pretty close to a busy road. I also heard that several years back a woman was on that busy road sitting at a bus stop when a pack of coyotes attacked her. It was early morning, just before dawn. That is spooky because I thought the busy road was safer for me to walk the dog along.

I think I am swinging back to the side of wishing someone would do something to control the population of these animals.
file:///Users/Anita/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot.png (broken link)
Here is a link to the article I read...the pdf file seemed too large to attach.
Coyote Management Guidelines--UC IPM

[1AngryTaxPayer]

I rode the trails by Dixon and there were a couple of young ones grabbing squirrels in the grass right next to where everyone was walking. It's just part of nature that we live in.


It's more dangerous on the freeway.

[TristramShandy]

Originally Posted by ps16

I had my German Shepherd with me. We stopped and I pointed out the coyotes to my friend. They stopped and stared. My dog noticed them (first time in all the times I have been with him and seen them). He did not react as he would if it were a loose dog, but he did start to whimper shepherd style. This was my closest encounter, to be sure.

It's disconcerting to know that a tough dog like a German Shepherd gets concerned at the sight of coyotes. I've been hiking more in more rurals places recently (although all places are well traveled paths such as Los Penasquitos) and my dogs are smaller than German Shepherds. Thanks for the information!

[ps16]

It's more dangerous on the freeway.

HaHa!..that is for sure!

[ps16]

Originally Posted by TristramShandy

It's disconcerting to know that a tough dog like a German Shepherd gets concerned at the sight of coyotes. I've been hiking more in more rurals places recently (although all places are well traveled paths such as Los Penasquitos) and my dogs are smaller than German Shepherds. Thanks for the information!

Yes, it is. I found stories online from incidents around the San Clemente area where people had dogs ripped from their arms by coyotes. It's scary!

[dreamboatannie953]

I live in the Seattle area on some wetlands and we have a pack of Coyotes in our wetlands here. I hate them and fear for my cat who I have a hard time keeping in at night, she's pretty wild herself. Last night my daughter and I were sickened by the sound of hysterical howling coyotes obviously killing a neighborhood dog and eating it. That poor dog was yelping so loud in pain as it was being attacked, it was upsetting. I'm teasing my family that I'm going to buy big bags of dog food and throw it out there every day to domesticate those Coyotes. I look at your San Diego site here because I wonder all the time if the grass is greener down there?

[TristramShandy]

Originally Posted by dreamboatannie953

I look at your San Diego site here because I wonder all the time if the grass is greener down there?

With the differences in precipitation between the two cities, I guarantee that our grass is browner.

[dreamboatannie953]

Originally Posted by TristramShandy

With the differences in precipitation between the two cities, I guarantee that our grass is browner.

Ahhhhh but your winters are way more sunny....