Increased coyote sightings in Eastlake

The Chula Vista community of Eastlake is guarding against an influx of coyotes.

In the past few weeks, two dogs have been attacked and killed, and last Sunday, a teenage girl was also attacked in Spring Valley.

The Department of Fish and Game said coyotes are native to Southern California and many housing developments have spread into their territory. Experts said homeowners are giving coyotes a reason to get closer to neighborhoods, as they are drawn in by food and garbage left outside. Even worse, some homeowners have been feeding the coyotes.

There is nothing new about coyote sightings in eastern Chula Vista, experts said. The city’s master plan communities have been designed with open space greenbelts intertwined in between the neighborhoods, and the green belts give coyotes a safe passageway directly into the heart of neighborhoods.

Curious Coyote Facts

Only 5-20% of coyote pups survive their first year.

The coyote can run at almost 40 mph and can get over a 8' fence.

Coyotes can breed with both domestic dogs and wolves. A dog-coyote mix is called a "coydog."

The coyote is more likely afraid of you than vice-versa.

Coyotes maintain their territory by marking it with urine.

One of the most adaptable animals in the world, the coyote can change its breeding habits, diet and social dynamics to survive in a wide variety of habitats. Coyotes have a good sense of smell, vision and hearing which, coupled with evasiveness, enables them to survive both in the wild and occasionally in the suburban areas of large cities. They are common in most rural areas, but because of their secretive nature, few are seen. Efforts to control or exterminate the Coyote by predator control agents seem to have produced an animal that is extremely alert and wary and well able to maintain itself.

PLEASE RESPECT ALL WILDLIFE! Contact appropriate authorities if you see a coyote in your neighborhood. DO NOT feed them, and keep small pets inside at night if you live in an area prone to coyotes. After all, they too are only trying to survive. Remember, they are GREAT controllers of rodent, and rabbit population in our area.