Coyotes getting far too bold in Sunset Hills

Coyotes in Sunset Hills walk the streets like stray dogs, showing no fear of civilized surroundings. It's a sign of trouble.

A group of three coyotes surrounded Nick Ochoa's 52-pound Australian shepherd and wouldn't leave it alone until his 110-pound Labrador retriever rushed in and the wild predators scattered.

And in the same area recently, near the 23 Freeway and Pederson Road in Thousand Oaks, coyotes attacked a Labrador retriever belonging to one of Ochoa's neighbors.

An open easement area near Ochoa's home is also no longer safe for walking his dogs.

After hearing a woman's scream coming from that location recently, Ochoa said he ran up the hill to find a coyote trying to attack the woman's dog- even though she was using a slingshot to scare it away.

Ochoa took over with the slingshot so the woman could get home. Still, the coyote wouldn't give up and return to open space, even though, Ochoa said, he got within 20 feet of the animal.

"I'm afraid something bad is going to happen to someone who doesn't know what's going on here with these coyotes," he said.

Ochoa has called the Los Angeles Animal Care and Control, but they told him they don't deal with those problems, he said.

"Now is the time to do something, before something really bad happens," said California Department of Fish and Game spokesperson Harry Morse.

Morse said any threatening movement of a coyote toward a human will be responded to if a person calls Fish and Game's hotline at (888) 334-2258. He also suggested the sheriff's department be called.

Coyotes are most active in the springtime when they're feeding and protecting their young.

Morse offered some tips to keep coyotes away.

Don't leave food or water outside your home. It lures wild animals. Food includes, he said, accessible garbage, pet food and medium to small family pets.

Hungry coyotes will become scavengers. People who leave food out are asking for a visit and encouraging a coyote to become bold around people. Cat food, for instance, attracts animals such as opossums, rats and raccoons right to the back door. Coyotes like the taste of such creatures, so they come around, too, and become even more comfortable with city life.

Bringing bird feeders inside at night is recommended because when the stars come out, bird feeders turn into rodent feeders.

Rodents are a natural food source for coyotes.

Last year four toddlers were attacked by coyotes in Southern California between April 15 and June 15, Morse said.

To avoid such attacks, day or night, small children and pets shouldn't be outside unattended.

Trim shrubbery to reduce hiding places. Bushes provide cover for coyotes, and they're also places where rodents can thrive. Los Angeles Animal Care and Control officials recommend trapping or poisoning, if necessary, to control the rodent population.

Motion-sensitive lighting around a home can be a deterrent for coyotes prowling after dark.

If a coyote approaches someone who's walking outdoors, it's a good idea to make loud noises to chase it off.

If that doesn't scare it away, throwing a rock at the coyote might be necessary, according to a Fish and Game report.

For more information on coyotes, go to www.dfg.ca.gov.