Residents in a Pasadena neighborhood are concerned after they say aggressive coyotes are roaming the streets and clashing with neighbors and their dogs.
The coyotes have been frequenting a community near Euclid Avenue and California Boulevard.
Pasadena resident Mike Kwan said he was walking with his dog when a coyote saw them and suddenly darted toward them.
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A coyote is seen roaming a Pasadena neighborhood. (KTLA) -
A coyote is seen roaming a Pasadena neighborhood. (KTLA) -
Mark Kwan, Cindy McNichols, and her sister, Kimberly Unland, said they have all encountered or witnessed aggressive coyote behavior while walking in their Pasadena neighborhood recently. (KTLA)
“It was like 10:30 p.m. and I saw a coyote on the other side of the street,” he told KTLA’s Mary Beth McDade. “I just panicked and I turned and ran as fast as I could, but I couldn’t get rid of the coyote. It was following us. I did what I could to shake it off, yell at it and make noise.”
He said thankfully a bystander driving by saw the encounter and told Kwan to get into his car for safety.
On Thursday morning, neighbors said a coyote had targeted a woman and her dog. Bystanders saw the situation and quickly grabbed some sticks to chase it away.
“What came to mind for me was just how horrifying and terrifying this is,” said Kimberly Unland, who witnessed the coyote encounter.
Some neighbors said they’re frightened to leave their homes or walk around the neighborhood.
“Because these coyotes are extremely aggressive,” said Cindy McNichols, a witness. “The one that my sister saw today was snarling his teeth, going towards that woman.”
Rebecca Dmytryk, director of Humane Wildlife Control, believes the coyotes that are roaming the neighborhood may be a male and female couple that have been living in the community for years.
“They come here because there’s food for them,” Dmytryk explained.
Several months ago, Dmytryk was contacted by Pasadena city officials to assess the coyote situation in five different neighborhoods and to develop a response plan.
She said in this particular neighborhood near Euclid Avenue and California Boulevard, the female remains skittish, but the male has become human-conditioned.
“Somebody has hand-fed that coyote and that’s really problematic,” Dmytryk said.
She said the male coyote was likely targeting the dogs, not the humans, in order to protect its territory and food source.
“He’ll get that snarly face,” she explained. “All this is reversible. The coyotes can be reconditioned to respect healthy boundaries. But this all depends on the people.”
She said it’s important for humans to stop feeding wild animals and, when spotted, people should use sticks or make loud noises to scare them away.
Dmytryk also has tips for encountering a coyote while walking a dog.
“Bring your dog to your side,” she said. “If you have a little dog, pick it up and then try to haze the coyote. If it doesn’t back away, then walk out of the area. Leave the area and report it.”
“When coyotes become accustomed to an area it’s often the result of human behavior, such as providing food for coyotes accidentally or on purpose,” according to Citizens for Los Angeles Wildlife. “Pet food should never be left outside, as this not only attracts coyotes directly but also attracts feral cats, which become an additional attractor for coyotes. Other sources of food include garbage or fallen fruit, or defenseless furry prey that meows or barks. Unclean conditions can attract rats, which can eventually attract coyotes as well.”
More information about coyote safety can be found here and from L.A. County officials here.
