Corralitas Drive: ALERT, Large Coyote Pack

Photo: Gary Vlahakis, June 11, 2017.  Coyote pup on Red Car Property, still photo taken from video.

A Corralitas Drive neighbor, from the middle of the hill, wrote in an email today, "last night at 11pm, I saw a pack of 5-6 coyotes casually sauntering up Corralitas in the middle of the road, as if they were clocking in for the night shift."

It's more typical we see packs of 3 coyotes in the Red Car Neighborhood.  This is the first sighting of such a large pack on the street.  It is likely a family group with the juveniles learning to hunt with the adults.

Los Angeles Animal Services recommends "hazing' coyotes. If you encounter coyotes,  throw small rocks, shout, wave your arms, make yourself larger.  Be sure to keep your dog on leash and do not let your dogs chase coyotes.  

With a pack that large it is easy for them to lie in wait around cars to take unsuspecting pets as prey. Yes, I've stopped a couple of those attacks using the aforementioned techniques. You know the neighbors who walk their dogs regularly in the neighborhood, by the fact we've all said, "I saw two coyotes and I looked around and said to myself, OK, where's the third one?"

If you feed your pets outside, pick up the food bowls as soon as they are finished.  Do not leave even empty trash and recycle bins open.  If the bins are cracked or broken, get them replaced for free by calling 311 or online via MyLA 311.

Living with urban coyotes: LA Animal Services 

Record your coyote sightings: LA Nature Map on iNaturalist 

Click here for all our coyote posts.
 

Astro Restaurant: C-145 Brought A Friend

Video: Gary Vlahakis, June 18, 2017.  The coyote in tracking collar, often seen waiting for a meal in the Astro Restaurant parking lot, was identified as C-145 by LA City Animal Services Wildlife Officer Hoang DInh, but we could just call him Astro.

National Park Service was tracking C-145 along with 5 other coyotes in their Los Angeles urban coyote study.  C-145 and his mate had a litter in a Silver Lake backyard in 2016.  According to the NPS website, the batteries died a few months after the collar was placed on the coyote.  Information regarding the study hasn't been updated since 2016. You might try Facebook for their latest info.  

There is an ongoing coyote scat study, with the help of volunteers, they learn much about what Los Angeles coyotes are eating.  In C-145's case, you don't need to find his poop to know he's a regular at Astro and probably taught his pups to eat there too.  (I'd heard stories for years about the coyote in a collar who visits Astro, but last week was the first proof.)

Under the advice of  Wildlife Officer Dinh, Vlahakis attempted to chase off C-145 and his buddy from the Astro parking lot. C145's buddy took off across Fletcher. C-145 is so unafraid of people that he went right back to the parking lot to wait for breakfast early Sunday morning. 

Dinh recommends hazing coyotes: making your self large, waving your arms, throwing pine cones in the direction of coyotes to make them afraid of people again.  

LA City Animal Services is hosting a series of Wildlife Workshops across the City.  In addition to coyotes in our neighborhood we have bobcat, gray fox, raccoon, opossum, skunk, rats and snakes among a plethora of birds, raptors, owls, gophers and insects in the neighborhood.

LA City Wildlife Workshop

Thursday, July 13, 2017
6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
North Central Shelter
3201 Lacy St.
Los Angeles, CA 90031

(Cypress Park)

Learn more about living with urban wildlife:
Los Angeles City Animal Services
Coyote Hazing The Humane Society
Conflict Resolution With Coyotes The Humane Society 
Keep Me Wild State of California  

Document coyote sightings (citizen science):
"Coyote Catcher" University of California
LA Nature Map on iNaturalist LA County Natural History Museum

We've been documenting coyote sightings in the Corralitas Red Car Property Neighborhood for the past ten years.If you have photos of coyotes or other wildlife in the neighborhood, email photos or links to video along with a brief when, where and what was the behavior you observed: redcarproperty@gmail.com

Red Car Property: Coyote Calling

Video: Gary Vlahakis, June 11, 2017.  Vlahakis heard a coyote calling noisily prior to seeing the youngster on the Red Car Property slope, below homes on Lake View Ave.  It's worth watching with sound.  This was Vlahakis' second coyote sighting of the morning and it wasn't even 9 AM.

Photo: Gary Vlahakis, June 11, 2017.  The coyote in the video was sitting to the right of the scorched and bent telephone pole (center of photo).  This photo shows potential den sites and pathways into the dense brush.  

If you need another reason to get your brush clearance done, other than reducing risk of fire: the dense brush gives coyotes good cover for ambushing prey and neighbors' pets.  

Keep your dogs on a leash.

The telephone poles running across the slope are at the Red Car Property line. In addition to the Red Car Property, only a couple of upslope neighbors on the Lake View and Silver Ridge side have done their brush clearance.  At least the protected native Black Walnut Trees are recovering from last year's fire.

Click here for all our coyote posts.
Click here for all our brush clearance posts.

Astro Restaurant: Coyote Wearing Tracking Collar

Photo: Gary Vlahakis, June 11, 2017.   The coyote appears to be wearing a tracking collar like one worn by P-22, the Griffith Park mountain lion.  (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

Sunday morning, a medium-sized coyote was lying down in the middle of Astro Restaurant's parking lot when Red Car Property neighbor, Gary Vlahakis pulled in.  He'd seen the coyote wearing a collar in the parking lot before.  This time, he was able to grab a great photo and some video.  The coyote seems to be waiting for breakfast. 

Vlahakis spoke to workers in the restaurant, where he learned the coyote is a regular visitor.  Vlahakis advised them not to feed the coyote as it is not only against the law, but it encourages the coyote to associate humans with food.  Clearly this one has no fear of humans. At least the trash dumpster, a potential food source, is closed.

We forwarded the video and photo to the researcher conducting the Los Angeles urban coyote study with the National Park Service via one of their volunteers who is a Red Car Property neighbor.  

Click here for all our coyote posts. 
 

Red Car Property: Coyote Encounter - It's The One You Don't Get On Video...

2 coyotes from Adelbert to Red Car Property 6AM #NatureinLA #LAFD still needs brush clearance @MitchOFarrell pic.twitter.com/RxOFTgAvWI

— Corralitas (@RedCarProperty) July 15, 2016

Last Friday, Gary Vlahakis was out for an early morning run on the Red Car Property when he saw a coyote come down through the dry brush from Adelbert. He managed to get two coyotes on video ahead of him on the trail.  You see his dog, who is deaf, stay obediently stay by his side.  But the story of the video he DID NOT get is even more amazing...

The first thing I said was where's the third coyote?  Vlahakis responded, 

"As we were approaching the little trail that goes up to Adelbert I saw what I thought was a little doggie at the bottom....barking and barking!!!  When we got within 30’ or so I realized it was a coyote, but it just stayed there and kept barking so i started taking a video (I thought). About 30 seconds later I thought something was odd so I turned around and a bigger coyote was sneaking up behind us. And I’m thinking 'this will be an incredible video!'  The coyote was coming right at us when turned but angled off and circled around us to meet the other and they went up the little trail. It never was more than 15’ away as it went by."  

The video didn't record.  Of course anyone who's ever tried to capture a wildlife encounter on the fly, on your phone, has had a similar mishap with recording video.  I know I have. You just shoot and hope for the best.  I've learned to stick to stills and multiple images because I can rarely make the video work in such situations.

Keep your dogs on leash, keep your cats indoors, don't leave food debris outside.  Keep your trash and recycle bins closed at all times.  Get your brush clearance done.  Don't give coyotes a place to hide in your yard.  If there are neighboring lots that haven't been cleared of brush (like the Red Car Property) report them to LAFDBrush@lacity.org You can look up more info on brush clearance: http://www.lafd.org/fire-prevention/brush

Historic Viaduct Footings: Coyote Sighting

Photo: Jonathan Vandiveer, January 10, 2016.  You'll have to look closely for the coyote.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

The coyote might be a little 2-dimensional and possibly cardboard.  At least the coyote art appears to be a less permanent addition to City of Los Angeles Historic Cultural Landmark #770 than some of the other "art."

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

India St & Silver Ridge Ave: Lost Tabby Cat *Updated

Atlas has been missing since around 5:30 AM Saturday. He is an older cat who is much loved & needs thyroid medication.  Atlas was wearing a collar & tags and is microchipped.

*UPDATE 1-8-15: We received sad news today from Atlas' owners that evidence indicates Atlas fell victim to a coyote shortly after being let out, Saturday morning.  Our hearts go out to them for their loss. 


We are a hyperlocal blog and are always willing to post lost & found animals from the Red Car Property neighborhood, just send us photo (.jpg) and pertinent info. Please confirm that you are the owner so we don't publish contact info without permission: redcarproperty@gmail.com.

Another good place to post your own notice is The Eastsider's Animals page.

Red Car Property: ALERT 20-lb Chunk Of Rotting Meat On The Path Near Adelbert*

Photo: Red Car Neighbor, August 15, 2014.  If you've got dogs - keep them on a leash - particularly near the Adelbert cut-thru. Someone dumped what appears to be a 20-lb ham a few days ago.  We don't know if it's been laced with poison to try to kill coyotes - but it's disgusting - attracting flies - maggots hatching.  

There's now way it just fell out of a grocery bag.  It's huge, it was perfectly square.  Several path regulars thought it was a huge brick of clay when it first appeared in its plastic bag Thursday.  Even the coyotes haven't finished it off yet.  If this is someone's way of attracting coyotes to the area - it's not ok.  It's illegal to feed wildlife.  And you could harm someone's pet in the process.  

*8-17-14 UPDATE: As of this morning the hunk of meat is gone.  Either the coyotes finished it off or someone disposed of it.  

Lot C: Coyote Spooked

All photos: Chad Ferrin, May 18, 2014, around 6:30 AM.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Ferrin writes in an email, "Heard some crows cawing and saw [the coyote] run up the hill in front of my house."

"He waited for a man and his unleashed pit bull to walk past,

then disappeared."  It looks like the big male has seen a few fights from the scrapes in his coat.

You know it's a male from the thick neck.  (Nice of him to pause near the Red Car Property line marker.)

That's the property line marker from the early part of the last century.  It marks the line between Lot C (in the foreground) & Silver Lake Court (the paper street upslope and out of sight).  The concrete marker is near the Roselin Public Staircase

Early morning seems to be prime time for coyotes on the Red Car Property around India and Silver Lake Ave Public Staircase.

Red Car Property: ALERT! Coyote Playtime

All photos: Chad Ferrin, May 6, 2014, around 6:30 AM.  A pair of coyotes were playing on the Red Car Property, just south of India. Ferrin captured an incredibly dog-like playtime in a series of photos. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

It looks like a male and female; the male is considerably larger, with a thicker neck, larger head & fluffy tail.  According to Google search of "coyote mating season:" mating season is January -  March, so this appears to just be play.

Ferrin reports, they played quietly with no barking or calling.

Thanks again to Chad Ferrin for sharing this incredible series of photos with us!

This is a reminder to keep your dogs on a leash.  Do not leave your small children or animals unattended in your yard.  Don't feed wildlife.  If you feed your pets outside, pick up the bowls as soon as they're done.  Keep your trash & recycle bins tightly closed.  Don't let contractors just toss their lunch  trash in a pile in your yard or on the Red Car Property.  

Learn more about coyote behavior, management: UC Davis

City wildlife policy/program: Los Angeles Animal Services, Wildlife Program

Click here for all our coyote posts.

LA River: If You're Taking Part In La Gran Limpieza Today, Remember The River Is A Wild Place

Photo: Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Tract Neighbor, April 9, 2014.  A coyote was calling for quite some time on an island in the river, near Sunnynook Bridge.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Friends of LA River (FoLAR) is marking its 25th year of cleaning the LA River.  Today, from 9 AM - noon, they're hosting the clean up in the Glendale Narrows (from Griffith Park to the Confluence). 

Allesandro St & Oak Glen: Coyote

Photo: Esteban Gonzalez, March 2, 2014, around 2 AM.  Look closely & you'll see the coyote on the right, near the first car.

Lake View Ave: COYOTE ALERT! Coyotes Kill Orange Cat On Silver Lake Ave Public Staircase

Photo: Amy Seidenwurm, March 3, 2014, 7:43AM.  Two coyotes are eating an orange tabby cat beneath the tree adjacent to the Silver Lake Ave Public Staircase,between Lake View Ave & Silver Ridge.

Another neighbor witnessed the scene a few moments earlier:

"Warning, if you're a cat lover and know the loose cats in the neighborhood, this may be upsetting...

On my morning run today, at approximately  7:30 AM, I was passing by the Silver Lake Ave. stairs and saw two coyotes just up the hill from Lake View Ave. eating an orange cat.  The cat was quite large...they were having trouble carrying it up the hill, but stopped to consume it about halfway up the vacant lot facing Lake View Ave. (on the left as you ascend the stairs).

I had been out walking my dog shortly before that, and a passerby in a car warned me that there was a coyote near the corner of Lake View and Silver Ridge (just in front of my house at 22XX Silver Ridge), so they apparently worked their way northward on Lake View Ave., hunting."

Warning, you may find the next photo upsetting, but I want people to see what a gruesome death it is for a cat to fall prey to coyotes.  If you don't want your cat to be a meal for a coyote, keep them indoors.
 
Photo: Amy Seidenwurm, March 3, 2014.  The coyote on the right looks young.  It also looks a lot like the one seen at the rear of a house on Lake View last week. 

Across the City, drought has coyotes looking in backyards for food more than usual right now.  Learn more about what you can do to make your yard less attractive to them : LA City Animal Services

Red Car Property: Daylight Coyote Alert

Photo: Gary Vlahakis, February 26, 2014, 7:10 AM.  A curious coyote followed Vlahakis & his dog on a morning walk on the Red Car Property.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Recognizing the house the coyote was hanging outside of in this photo, I sent it along to the homeowner.  The family happened to be watching the coyote safely inside their home south of the Silver Lake Ave Public Staircase.  

Do not let your kids, dogs or cats in the yard if there are coyotes hanging around.

The coyote seemed to be making the rounds of more recent construction sites off the Red Car Property (according to a video shot by Vlahakis).  If a home near you is being flipped, remodeled or constructed, talk to the homeowner & contractors about keeping trash under control.  I've seen more discarded fast food bags & trash at construction sites, in amongst the construction trash, that definitely attracts rats, skunks, raccoons & coyotes.  Construction sites are required by City code to keep their trash in covered bins and not let it pile up, but the code doesn't get enforced. 

And while you're at it, keep your & your neighbors' trash cans closed too.  Learn more: LA City Animal Services.   

Click here for all our coyote posts.

Silver Lake: COYOTES - Topic Of Neighborhood Watch Meeting - NEXT MONDAY, Feb 10, 2014



Photo: Miguel Ordeñana, Los Angeles County Natural Museum camera trap, May 5, 2013. Coyote in Red Car Canyon. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Northeast Silver Lake Neighborhood Watch will host a meeting regarding coyotes featuring Greg Randall & Hoang Dinh, Wildlife Officers, City of Los Angeles Animal Services.

Northeast Silver Lake Neighborhood Watch Meeting

Monday February 10, 2014

6:PM

Ivanhoe Elementary School Auditorium

 2828 Herkimer Street

Silver Lake 90039

info: Paul Neuman, pmneuman@yahoo.com, (323) 662-3123

Lenny Davis, LAPD Senior Lead Officer for Silver Lake will attend.

Photo: Gary Vlahakis, October 6, 2013.  Coyote on India & Silver Ridge.

 

Coyotes have been more visible than usual this time of year - blame the prolonged drought.  Aside from the usual blame on open trashcans & people feeding their pets outside & not picking up the food bowls, coyotes might find urban chickens enticing. 

View Larger Map

 

Coyotes are attracted to the smell of food & trash.  I've received a number of early morning (6-7AM) coyote sighting reports around India & Silver Lake Blvd, near Ralph's.  We should be looking at restaurants & grocery stores leaving trashcans open.  See the Google Map of the Ralph's overflowing trash areas above & their proximity to India St & Silver Lake Blvd homes.  People want to live near shops & restaurants, but don't always think of the unintended consequences. 

 

Click here for all our coyote posts.

 

India St: More On The Coyote Pack

Photo: Gary Vlahakis October 6, 2013, 8:32 AM.  Coyote nonchalantly crossed Vlahakis' path at the corner of India St & Silver Ridge.  (Click on photos to enlarge.) 

The story of the coyote pack on the Red Car Property & the brazen coyote who did not want to move from the path of a neighbor's truck pulling into his own driveway, brought today's photos, as well as the following story from another Riverside Place neighbor:

I bumped into 3 very large coyotes at the bottom of India/Silverlake Blvd (behind Ralphs) on a jog last Saturday [around 7:30-8] am. The first one startled me (and me it) as we came within a few feet or so of each other as we both rounded the corner there simultaneously. Even more surprised to see the other two in the pack following close behind. There might have been more, who knows. The first one was definitely the biggest. About mid thigh height on me which is pretty huge for a coyote.

Next time I'll try to get a photo but I'm pretty single minded when running.
Another Riverside Place Neighbor

 

Photo: Gary Vlahakis, October 6, 2013. 8:33 AM.  Same coyote didn't seem to care about Vlahakis or his dog but it took the sidewalk at the corner of India & Silver Ridge, heading toward Lake View.

Our urban coyotes are big, healthy & not afraid of people.  They are totally adapted to hunting in packs using the cars & trashcans as cover to lure off-leash dogs into an ambush.  One coyote will take to the middle of the street to distract the dog while the other two will cleverly come out from the sides of a parked car to trap the unsuspecting dog.  I've watched coyotes use this technique and I've intervened by shouting at the dog to go home & throwing rocks, running waving my arms at the coyotes.  Others have reported similar coyote behavior and experienced ambushes on the public staircases themselves. 

KEEP YOUR DOGS ON A LEASH!

DO NOT ALLOW YOUR DOGS TO CHASE COYOTES. 

Keep trash & recycle bins tightly closed, even if they are empty. If a neighbor isn't controlling their trash - have a talk with them - they might not know they're attracting coyotes, rats, raccoons an skunks to the area.  Some neighborhood restaurants & markets are notorious for not covering their trashcans. Report them to Building & Safety or have a talk with the manager.  (Mixed-use zoning that City Planning is embracing, will only encourage more of this particular problem.)

Don't feed wildlife - it's against the law.  If you feed your pets outside, pick up the food bowls immediately after they eat - do not leave food out for them.  All the local wildlife will beat a path to your door.  Do not poison or trap coyotes. (You're putting not only wildlife at risk but also cats, dogs and children too.) 

City of LA Animal Services has good info for dealing with coyotes on their website.

Click here for all our coyote posts.

Red Car Property: Coyote Pack Alert!

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 14, 2010. Coyote in Red Car Canyon. (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

A Riverside Place Neighbor sent the following email:

Have you also noticed the relatively new coyote pack?  I see them almost nightly behind my house [on the Red Car Property] and occasionally they roam the street in front.

The appear young - but one is particularly brazen.

Last night I had to run this [brazen] one off as he began to attempt trying to enter my yard through my rear parking gate as I parked the truck.  The sound of the truck, headlights and horn weren't enough to stop him.

I finally had to get out, brandish a piece of wood and yell to get it to retreat.

Has anyone else mentioned this pack?
Riverside Place Neighbor

Indeed they have.  I sent out word to a few neighbors who walk/run in the neighborhood & received photos & another story for tomorrow.

In the meantime, the City of Los Angeles Animal Services has good advice on their website like, don't feed your pets outside; if you do, pick up the food bowls immediately after they eat.  Keep all trashcans closed - even the empty ones - the smell attracts rats, raccoons, skunks & coyotes.  Do not leave your small pets outside unattended, although our coyotes are not afraid of people.

The prolonged drought has wildlife of all sorts boldly looking for food in places we might not have seen them for a while.  Remember, January is usually the rainy season and the weeds are normally knee high by now.   Drought means there is a scarcity of coyotes' natural prey (rats, gophers, mice), so they're looking for easy pickings like trash, dog & cat food and your pets. 

Click here for all our coyote posts. 

Share your Red Car Property Neighborhood wildlife photos (attach .jpg or .gif formats only) to: redcarproperty@gmail.com.

Red Car Canyon: 2013 Hangover, Critter Cam! Stuff You Missed Last Year

Photos: © Miguel Ordeñana, some rights reserved,  Los Angeles County Natural Museum camera trap, May 2013.  Coyote.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

For a week last May, Wildlife on the Red Car Property was documented with a remote critter camera on the LA Nature Map.  Ordeñana is a field biologist & lead gallery interpreter at the LA County Natural History Museum.
 
Jonathan Vandiveer, Red Car Property neighbor & blog contributor, commented (when I sent him the link last summer), "The timestamp on the coyote photo indicates I'd just jogged through the canyon.  I never saw him.  The close angle and expression on his face is one you'd only get with a remote camera."    

Striped Skunk

Raccoon

Virginia Opossum

Eastern Fox Squirrel

Domestic Cat.  From the size of his neck, I'd say it's an intact male.

Stuff you missed last year: we shoot & collect tons of photos.  So we try to wrap up the year with some interesting ones we never got a chance to run.

Cove Ave: Stuff You Missed This Year, Coyote

Photos: Corralitas Drive Neighbor, August 31, 2013, 8:07 AM.  It never ceases to amaze me how well adapted coyotes are to blend in with their surroundings.  Many longtime neighbors have never even seen a coyote.  The coyotes' camouflage could be one reason why.

A neighbor stopped her car & shot some photos (with her phone, from the safety of her car) of a big, healthy male coyote who quite nonchalantly crossed her path on Cove Ave near Fair Oak View Terrace.. 

Even zoomed in from the wide shot, the coyote is hard to see with his head in a gopher hole.

The neighbor reported the coyote seemed to be on a regular route, searching for food, which is typical behavior.

These photos have not been altered for color or contrast.  It is possible that is blood on his neck.  Or it may be a weird color shift in the digital camera or reflection. 

Stuff you missed this year: we shoot & collect tons of photos.  So we try to wrap up the year with some interesting ones we never got a chance to run.