There is another animal that”s common in the county but rarely seen and that”s the coyote. I recently had an unusual experience with a large coyote.
I live approximately 200 yards from the Lakeport city limits. One evening last week I let my small 10-pound house dog out to do her business before putting her to bed. She is a feisty little dog and when she ran out in the yard she started growling and disappeared into the dark. A few moments later she gave sharp yip and came racing back to me. Right on her heels was a large coyote. I scooped my dog up and the coyote skidded to a stop not 10 feet from me. Once he saw me he did an about-face and raced out of the yard.
Without a doubt, he planned on having my dog for dinner.
Coyotes are interesting critters. They are distant relatives of a dog and are only native to North America. A coyote can weigh up to 50 pounds and mates for life. They travel in small family packs and the female will givebirth from four to eight pups in the spring. They can live up to 15 years in the wild.
They are one of the most versatile animals in the wild and can adapt to just about any environment. As a wildlife biologist once remarked to me; “If there is ever a nuclear holocaust the two species that will probably survive are the cockroach and the coyote.”
At one time the coyote population in Lake County, and California, was controlled by ranchers who raised sheep. Coyotes would prey on the lambs and could devastate a flock of sheep. Ranchers would trap the animals and even poison them. One favorite method was to set out cyanide guns where a scent was rubbed on the gun. The coyote would lick the end of the gun which would fire a puff of cyanide poison in its face killing him instantly.
Various other poisons were often set out to kill the coyotes. Thousands of coyotes were killed across the state.
Twenty years ago laws were passed outlawing cyanide guns, poisons and leg-hold traps. The sheep farming industry also declined which has resulted in a resurgence of the coyote population.
Coyotes have also changed their behavior. They now can live and thrive right next to houses. In fact, there are coyotes living within the city limits of Lakeport and Clearlake as well as in the other residential areas around the county. They are rarely seen because they are mostly nocturnal. However, they can often be heard yipping and howling at night.
One reason coyotes, along with mountain lions and other predators, have taken up residence near humans is because of the availability of food. Lush lawns, golf courses and gardens attract deer and other plant eating animals which in turn attract the predators.
These “urban” coyotes will eat almost anything but one of their favorite meals is a domestic cat or small dog. They will also eat garbage, insects, rodents, birds and even certain plants. They have also been known to kill small deer such as fawns. They can even survive for several days without any food. Coyotes have the ability to jump an eight-foot fence and take a small pet right out of someone”s backyard.
Whereas there hasn”t been a case of coyotes attacking humans in Lake County, there have been incidences in Southern California where coyotes have attacked and bitten small children.
A few people hunt coyotes. There is no season or limit but the hunter must have a valid state hunting license. Not that they”re good eating but they do offer a challenge to the hunter. The hunters use what is called a “predator call” which makes a sound like a rabbit in distress. The high pitched squeal will often bring a coyote charging in. It”s called varmint hunting.
Whether we like coyotes or not they are here to stay and will probably outlast us. Actually to hear the lonesome howl of a coyote late at night is just another reason why living in Lake County is so special.
