Silver Ridge Way: How Many Coyotes Do You See In This Photo?

Photo: Joan Stevenson, April 14, 2015. I can't tell you how often people say they've never seen a coyote in the neighborhood.  They do blend in well with our dry hillsides.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Got Chickens? Stevenson's neighbor does.   Tuesday morning, Stevenson awoke to the sounds of barking coyotes and panicked chickens.  If you've got chickens, be a good neighbor & let your neighbors know so they can make an informed decision about letting their cats and small dogs outside.  Fences are not a deterrent to coyotes.

Photo: Joan Stevenson, April 14, 2015 (enlarged from the upper photo).  There were at least 2 large male coyotes up on the neighbor's retaining wall, watching the chickens in the pen below.  A third coyote may be between the other 2.  

The backyard chicken craze must be easy pickings for Silver Lake  coyotes.

In the 25 years I've lived here, I'm always amazed at how well adapted coyotes are to the urban wilds of Silver Lake & Elysian Heights.  They hunt in packs, using parked cars for cover.  One coyote acts as a friendly decoy to lure a curious off leash dog toward them.  Meanwhile the other 2 coyote are lying in wait on either side of a parked car ready to ambush the unsuspecting dog.  Neighbors describe similar encounters on public staircases. 

Click here for Dept of Animal Services: Living with Wildlife information