Just glance at NextDoor and you’ll see that coyotes are a subject of concern. They’re the animal version of L.A. earthquake Twitter — when you see one strolling, it’s time to pull out the phone and share it with the world.
It used to be that seeing a coyote was pretty rare, but as we’re building and taking over land, these wild animals have had less places to go.
“Gone are the days where coyotes are coming from the hills for a drink,” said Niamh Quinn, a human-wildlife interactions advisor with the University of California’s Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
“I think that people need to know that coyotes are everywhere, like literally everywhere. Just because you don’t see coyotes doesn’t mean that they’re not in your neighborhood.”
They’re far less cherished than our local mountain lions, earning a bad rap for years of snacking on pets and catching people off guard at night. They can also get more aggressive during mating season, from January to March. But they are still our permanent neighbors. And since the population isn’t going anywhere (seriously, it’s illegal to relocate wildlife), it’s time to get to know their habits and behaviors.
Where do they live?
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates that there are between 250,000 and 750,000 in the state. Coyotes are native to the state and broader North America. (If you’re curious, the Spanish name “coyote” comes from “coyotl” in Nahuatl, meaning trickster.)
Quinn says they’re often found in the open spaces around us, like nature reserves, nurseries, railway lines and on Southern California Edison’s easement…
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