San Antonio Heights : August 2011 Archives

SAN ANTONIO HEIGHTS - Coyotes are no strangers to San Antonio Heights, and resident William Perry has experienced this first-hand.

The Heights resident watched his 3-year-old shih tzu Cooty get snatched by a coyote in his front yard.

"My truck is not a four-wheel-drive, but I made it one that morning," Perry said.

Cooty survived the attack, but lost his right eye.

"I was going to run that coyote over and then my dog jumped up," Perry said. "I about freaked. He shouldn't have been alive."

Now Perry carries an air horn with him to scare off lurking coyotes, which doesn't hurt, said Andrew Hughan, information officer for the state Department of Fish and Game.

"It can't hurt," Hughan said. "The rest of the neighbors probably don't appreciate it, but it doesn't hurt. There's no deterrent like bear spray. There's nothing like that for coyotes."

Generally making noise or throwing objects at the coyotes tends to scare them off, he said.

Perry has also developed a new daily routine. He will drive around his house in his truck looking for coyotes. He also keeps his dogs inside at night

Hughan said it is important for people to eliminate all food sources and avoid feeding wildlife. They should also never leave small animals unattended.

Coyote sightings this time of year is typical, Hughan said.

"It's summertime. It's the high heat right now coyotes are out looking for food doing what coyotes do. Nothing unusual," Hughan said.

There have not been any people attacked by coyotes this year in California, he said.

"It does happen, but it's very very rare that coyotes will actually go after a person, so that's the good news," Hughan said. "The bad news is hundreds and hundreds of pets get scooped up every year. The smaller animals are more vulnerable."