Coyotes corner woman in Westlake

By Teresa Rochester (Contact)
Saturday, August 18, 2007

The professionals call it human-wildlife interface.

Beverly Thompson calls it downright scary.

The Westlake Village woman was still shaking hours later on Wednesday when she recounted her early morning run-in with five coyotes while walking her Shih Tzus, Goldie and Monty Hall Jr.

"They were so brazen," Thompson said. "I've never seen them so brazen."

Living in this region, it's not uncommon to encounter coyotes that come down from the hills for food and water. However, officials in both Thousand Oaks and the city of Westlake Village said they have not received increased complaints this year.

Thompson's experience began around 6:20 a.m. as she and her dogs strolled down North Shore Lane, in the Westlake Village section of Thousand Oaks. Suddenly, Goldie came to a halt. A moment later Thompson spotted two fast-moving coyotes heading toward them.

She turned around, but not before dispensing pepper spray in the air.

Thompson said 16-year-old Monty Hall Jr. sprang to life.

"He has eye problems and can't hear, and I haven't seen him move that fast in three years," she said.

Thompson was holding Goldie, as the trio rounded a corner only to discover three other coyotes running toward them.

Thompson started shouting "coyote, coyote," as the five bore down on her. A man in a nearby townhome swung open the gate to his backyard and pulled Thompson and her dogs in.



Thompson is understanding of the coyotes' plight.

"They are starving now. They should be doing lifts of food up there," she said referring to the Santa Monica Mountains. "If they are coming in now they are hungry."

Brebda Sanchez, a spokeswoman with Los Angeles County's Department of Animal Care and Control, which Thousand Oaks contracts with for service, said hunger is what drives the bristly-tailed animals into the more populated areas.

"They are probably looking for food and water," said Sanchez adding that coyotes tend to become aggressive when they are protecting their young. "When you see three, you are probably seeing a mother and pups."

Officials in Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks said reports of coyote run-ins have held at a steady rate of a couple of phone calls a year. Scott Wolfe, Westlake Village's senior planner, said that several years ago there was a surge in the numbers. Thompson agreed.

California's Department of Fish and Game launched a campaign several years ago called "Keep Them Wild," an effort to educate people about coyotes. They are advised never to feed coyotes deliberately because the animals will get used to coming around, and that puts people and pets in danger. Pets should also be fed indoors and trash cans should have secured lids.

The Department of Fish and Game also recommends that bush and dense weeds around homes be cleared to reduce places where coyotes and rodents can take cover.

Small children should also not be left unattended in areas where coyotes congregate. Small pets should be kept indoors at night. Making loud noises, throwing rocks or spraying them with a garden house can keep coyotes at bay.