Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 11, 2012

11

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

 Mountain Views News Saturday August 11, 2012 


THE LONE COYOTE

 Most folks who’ve lived in Sierra Madre and the 
other local foothill communities for any period 
of time, have by now developed an awareness, a 
respectful regard and a careful concern for the 
coyotes with whom we cohabitate, particularly 
when it comes to the safety of their children 
and domestic pets. I, myself have had several 
close encounters with coyotes over the past 20+ years I have lived here and, fortunately 
in my experiences, there have been no tragic mishaps. However, I must admit I have felt 
somewhat intimidated on occasion by coyotes traveling in packs.

 Recently, I have been noticing a particular coyote wandering around all by itself on 
my block and the nearby streets, more often during the day than at night. I am not an 
expert on coyotes or coyote behavior, but I do observe them from a distance when I see 
them, and over the years I have noticed a behavioral pattern that I have become somewhat 
familiar with, so when a coyote behaves dramatically differently from what I consider 
typical, I can’t help noticing. The coyote I’ve been seeing lately, stands out because of both 
its appearance and its behavior. First I noticed it has what looks to me like a multi-colored 
coat, almost a brindle pattern, which is more typical for a domestic dog than a wild one. 
I took a photograph of this “lone coyote” one day, when I happened to see it standing in a 
yard on Santa Anita Blvd., and showed it to a few local friends and neighbors. A couple of 
them agreed it does indeed look like a mix breed. Others said they thought it looked more 
like it might just be sick with mange or some other disease, causing patches in its coat. 
Either way, I was quite intrigued and decided to keep my eyes peeled for more sightings.

 When I mentioned my visual & photographic encounters with the elusive, lone coyote 
to a friend who lives close-by and knows quite a bit about coyote behavior, he said he had 
seen a strange looking coyote pass through his yard recently that fit that very description. 
We both agreed that it behaved as if it was lonely or lost, and moved slower than most 
coyotes in our community, and was much more bold in wandering about during the day. 
Although I am not necessarily afraid of this wild canine, I am concerned that it might be 
more desperate than some, perhaps because it has been evicted from the pack for whatever 
reason. If so, it must fend for itself, in which case it might be more apt to attack. Regardless 
of why this particular coyote behaves the way it does, the fact remains that it could be 
more of a threat than most. For this reason, I thought it would be wise to remind my 
readers about the importance of protecting their pets and small children from what could 
be a tragic encounter with what might be a desperately hungry coyote.

 Here are a few safety tips that I consider to be common sense practice when it comes to 
cohabitating with coyotes:

. Keep your pets indoors if possible. Whenever necessary to take them out, keep 
them on a leash or inside a coyote proof fence. A coyote proof fence should be at least 5 
½ feet tall, and made of wood, brick or wire. To prevent coyotes from digging under the 
fence, you can attach a wire apron buried 4-6 inches under the ground extending out 
from the fence at least 20 inches. Rabbit & chicken hutches should be elevated with solid 
bottoms and partially solid sides versus open wire.
. Do not feed the coyotes! You may be doing this without realizing it. Make sure the 
lids on your trash cans are tightly closed, and feed your pets indoors, or if you feed them 
outdoors, bring any leftover food inside between feedings. If you have a garden, make sure 
it is enclosed in a coyote proof fence.
. Clean out overgrown brush and weeded areas on your property. Coyotes hunt for 
small rodents, and those are the areas where they are most likely to find them. By allowing 
brush and weeds to thrive in your yard, you are basically ringing the dinner bell for the 
coyote.
. Make loud noises when you do see a coyote close to your home, to help discourage 
repeated visits. If you encounter a coyote during a walk with your dog, make every effort 
to avoid it by calling your dog back and walking in the opposite direction. Do not attempt 
to approach a coyote, especially with a dog on leash. You are begging for trouble if you do!


 Coyotes are fascinating, beautiful creatures who have lived in these foothills since long 
before the neighborhoods crept up from the valleys. Whatever you do, show respect to 
them by recognizing their place in the balance of nature and by giving them the space they 
deserve. Use common sense in protecting your pets and children, enjoy the beauty of our 
natural environment and above all, love and let live!

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc


EAT A LITTLE… GIVE A LOT

Marina Sanctuary and IHOP invite you…

TO

 BUNNY HOP ON IN FOR BREAKFAST 

WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS 

AT IHOP 

Bring this flier and 20% of the proceeds will go to Marina 
Sanctuary...

…easy as pancakes!

Date: Saturday, August 11th, 2012

Time: From 7:00 AM - Midnight... ALL DAY!

Place: Duarte IHOP

 988 Hamilton Rd. 91010

 626-303-4861

Volunteers will be there 8 - 8 holding a raffle.

For More Info, Contact: Emily Adams 818-397-0491

PET OF THE WEEK: MONIQUE Animal ID #A4463347


Meet the lovely and elegant Monique 
(A4463347). Monique is a dainty four 
year old white female Lhasa Apso/Shih 
Tzu mix who was found in Baldwin 
Park on July 16th and brought to the 
Baldwin Park Animal Care Center. 

Weighing seven pounds, Monique 
walks well on leash and is most likely 
housebroken. She likes other dogs and 
we think she would not mind gentle 
children. If you are looking for a purse 
dog, look no further – this sweet girl 
with the soft coat, adorable face and 
delightful smile is it! Monique will 
be the perfect lapdog or purse dog for 
an individual or family living in an 
apartment or condo, and would be an exceptionally fine companion for a senior or retired 
person. 

 To watch a video of Monique please click here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbIrou1xpl0

To meet Monique in person, please see her at the Baldwin Park Shelter, located at 4275 N. 
Elton, Baldwin Park, CA 91706 (Phone: 626-430-2378 or 626-962-3577). She is currently 
available now. 

For any inquiries about Monique, please reference her animal ID number: A4463347. The 
shelter is open seven days a week, 12 pm-7 pm Monday-Thursday and 10am-5pm Friday-
Sunday. This is a high-intake shelter with a great need for adoptions. For more information 
about Monique or the adoption process, contact United Hope for Animals Volunteer 
Adoption Coordinator Samantha at samanthasayon@gmail.com or 661-309-2674. 

To learn more about United Hope for Animals’ partnership with the Baldwin Park Shelter 
through its Shelter Support Program, as well as the many dogs of all breeds, ages, and sizes 
available for adoption in local shelters, visit http://www.unitedhope4animals.org/about-us/
shelter-support-program/.