The agency fielded 250 wildlife-complaint calls in its 2016-17 fiscal year, more than 90 percent of them involving coyotes, Cronin said. “Coyotes are pretty much widespread throughout L.A.,” he said, downplaying reports of more in particular areas as anecdotal.īrian Cronin, chief of animal care and control for the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, said coyote trappings for the 12-month period ending June 30 were on track to exceed the previous year’s total, but well off the pace of two years ago. Dogs were not found in the diet of coyotes in either study.īrown called the population in Southern California “stable,” not shrinking, not growing. Gophers and insects made up 28% combined.Įarly studies showed domestic cats in lower percentages. Rabbits made up 18% and domestic cats, 20%. Of course, the neighborhoods they choose are rich in food resources, such as fruit trees, rabbits, gophers, outdoor pet food and yes, sometimes domestic cats and small dogs.Ī two-year study released in March by the National Park Service of 3,200 samples of coyote scat found human food and pet food made up 26% of their diet, as did ornamental fruit. One pack may set up a boundary against another and dig in, protecting their territory. More likely, they are establishing themselves in certain areas as territorial statements, Brown said. He wouldn’t say the urban coyote population is increasing exactly. State law prohibits relocating coyotes because it may transfer disease and often leave the coyote prey to mountain lions or starvation, Pellman said.īiologist Justin Brown, of the National Park Service, has been studying urban coyotes in Southern California for more than five years. When the office does trap a coyote, it is euthanized. Trapping is extremely difficult because coyotes are smart enough to avoid them. The office traps a coyote only if it is a threat to a human, he said. “With all the rains, you might see more of them.” “If it has been a good year in terms of rain and vegetation, they will have larger litters,” said Ken Pellman, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, which handles coyote issues in unincorporated county areas and for cities under contract. Meanwhile, litters of canis latrans - listed in a category given to dogs, wolves and foxes - can reach as many as 10 to 13 pups, scientists say. Some experts suggest the rainy winters of the past few years have upped the number of fruit dropping from trees, as well as the population of gophers, snakes and rabbits, primary coyote food sources. Miller said he caught two other young coyotes recently at the Sierra Lakes Golf Club in Fontana, bringing to 10 the total so far this year.īut are more coyotes really out there? That’s not an easy question to answer.

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