Community Corner

Coyote Alert! Have You Seen Them in Chatsworth?

Post your warnings in the comments area below.

  • Our friends over at Studio City Patch have been monitoring the appearance of ever more-aggressive coyotes in the Valley. What has been your experience in Chatsworth and Porter Ranch?

 

Coyotes have become more brazen in Studio City and other areas of the Valley since May. You can help warn locals about this threat to your pets by posting your wildlife sightings and warnings here.

Below are the latest warnings and approximate areas, and we will post them on the maps, too. If you take photos or video, please post them in the gallery above, where it says "Manage your pictures or video."

Find out what's happening in Northridge-Chatsworthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Click here for a comprehensive story about what to do about coyotes.


Find out what's happening in Northridge-Chatsworthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Latest Coyote Sightings . . .

Monday, July 11 @ 12:30 a.m.

"I live on Valleyheart and just heard the howling of a lone wolf, it was chilling."—Ô.D.

 

Sunday, July 10 @ 7 p.m.

A report over the police scanner North Hollywood frequency just reported at 7 p.m. a lone coyote near the 13000 block of Valleyheart walking north on Fulton over the bridge

 

Sunday, July 3 @ 7:45 p.m.

"It is now the evening and there are some private people setting off firecrackers and apparently scaring coyotes (and the rest of us) and they are coming through the CAHUENGA PASS from the Hollywood area. I live off Fredonia in Studio City and see four of them as I am sending this to you, and they look hungry. I tried to get a photo and every time it turns out too blurry will try again in a few."Karl Stern

 

Saturday, July 2 @ 9 p.m.

"At Rhodes and Cantura Street, the same one I saw last night." —Melissa


Saturday, July 2 @ 8:30 a.m.

"I was terrified while walking up toward Woodbridge Park for my daily morning stroll when I saw not one, but two coyotes right there in the street, not far from the construction of the sinkhole. They were totally not afraid of me when I said "shoo" and they scurried up toward the brush near the freeway not far from the park where kids play. I am now a bit scared."—Celia Duggan

 

Friday, July 1 @ 10:30 p.m.

"Large coyote trotting down Cantura Street. I chased it away, and as usual it kept coming back." —Melissa

 

Friday, July 1

"I think I was the only trail rider in Chatsworth who didn't know how Coyote Pass got its name .... it wasn't until a pack of coyotes cornered us with our Queensland Heeler, Ruby, that I figured it out. 
Thank goodness for my husband's old Stallion vestor, his skills in the show ring as a reining cowhorse came in handy - he was able to drive the little bastards off while Ruby and I made our escape. The coyotes caught up with us later and grabbed Ruby by the hind leg - I had dismounted to cross a culvert as I was four months pregnant and didn't balance well. Needless to say, hormones took over and I became a large raging human ready to kill anything that hurt my poor dog, who was now on her back and yelping in terror as the coyote was dragging her off. 
Lucky for us, the coyote let go and ran off. I lifted Ruby onto hubby's saddle where she got a really nice view on the ride home from the top of our old Stallion's back. 
Most recently, just a week ago, they came up the driveway at 9:00 in the morning and attacked our Borgi, Star. Fortunately, the shepherd who lives here got the last bite and all the dogs are okay now. 
As a sidenote, I found out recently that skunks eat rodents, too - and since learning that, they've become welcome at our barn for rodent control."—Susan Eskander

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What to do:

If you see a dangerous animal, contact Los Angeles Animal Services any time of day or night at 888-452-7381.

Also, LAPD Senior Lead Officer Mike Lewis, who covers the Cahuenga Pass as well as Studio City, issued these warnings:

Call your local shelter at 888-452-7381 with your sighting information and say, "I want to make a wildlife incident report." If someone else observed the wild animal, that person must call it in.

See required information below for making a report:

When making a wildlife sighting report, the following is needed when calling your local shelter:

*The caller's first and last names, home address, apartment number, ZIP Code, home and cellphone numbers.

*The location of the wild animal (actual address, block and street number or intersection).

*Type of wild animal observed (coyote, opossum, skunk, raccoon, etc.)

*The actual number/amount of wild animals observed in the incident.

*The date and time the wild animal was seen.

*The condition of the animal (sick, injured, orphaned, distressed).

*What was the wild animal doing while you observed it.

*Your pets, type and number or other animals involved/affected.

*Describe what happened during your wildlife encounter.

*Secondhand sightings or forwarded e-mails of other people talking about wildlife sightings are not accepted.

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Thursday, June 23 @ 8 a.m.

Near Sarah Street, Irene DeBlasio (who took one of the coyote photos above) commented:

"I've named our neighborhood coyote Skippy. I went down my driveway to pick up my newspapers this morning and sure enough there he was -- standing in the middle of the street watching me in my nightgown. I said, 'Morning, Skippy.' He just stood there and watched as I slowly walked back up my driveway (shaking all the way). Another close encounter..."

Wednesday, June 22 @ 7:30 p.m.

J.P wrote in "Just put out the trash at  Rhodes and Valleyspring and saw a big big coyote near the trash cans. Just a word of warning to keep the trash safe and contained, and maybe food stuffs should be in plastic bags, so it's not a temptation."

Tuesday, June 21 @ 8:20 p.m.

There's a big coyote that hopped a fence at Cantura near Vantage. The skinny guy went uphill on Vantage.

Friday, June 17 @ 10:30 p.m.

Steven M. —"Saw one scurry up the hill on the south side of the 101 near the Tujunga Bridge, went down to the wash."

Thursday, June 16 @ 6:30 p.m.

"Right off the Laurel Canyon off-ramp on the north side of the freeway where there's a homeless guy usually with a sign I saw a skinny coyote scrounging around. He was coming up to the cars practically, almost as brazen as the homeless guy, I hope he's OK."

Thursday, June 16 @ 6:15 p.m.

"Right off Barham going down toward Burbank heading down the hill I saw a coyote coming home tonight and it scurried up the hill to the Oakwoods."—Janice

Thursday, June 16 @ 5:01 p.m.

"Unfortunately while looking for my own cat that a neighbor thought they may have seen under their house, I was devastated to find the fresh evidence of a killing... Off of sunshine terrace on ; laurelwood or buena park (street changes names) near the top. It was gruesome and if anyone is missing a cat in the area that may be where it went sadly. There was fur but it's hard to say exactly what color it was. I'm thinking more of a brownish but i couldn't look to long almost vomited! keep your cats inside PLEASE!!!! I don't want to see anymore of this killing, it's really upsetting me!"—Crystal

Tuesday, June 14 @ 9:30 p.m.

Driving out of the Oakwood Apartments, a coyote was spotted going up the hill (where the fires took place a few years ago, same spot), but then while going through the electronic gate, a reader saw something "that looked like a mountain lion" walking right through the gate and scurrying down Barham Boulevard."

Monday, June 13, @ 5:30 a.m.

Caution: Regular early morning sightings at Dixie Canyon between Moorepark & Ventura.

Monday, June 13, @ Midnight

"Saw a small one going south down Noble at Greenleaf."

Sunday, June 12 @ 9:15 p.m.

Coyote on Cantura and Laurelgrove. "My neighbor just chased a coyote away that was at the corner of Cantura and Laurelgrove.. Again! It started to run down Cantura but they managed to chase it up the hill."

Sunday, June 12 @ 12:30 a.m.

Two coyotes on Cantura Street—again! "I was coming home late last night, I heard my neighbor yell to me she heard something in her garage, and I went over and saw two coyotes in her garbage can, one of them knocked over the large black bin! They didn't run even when we yelled (this was near Laurelgrove where there have been other sightings recently). One coyote streaked by me in the street on Cantura Street (near Laurelgrove). When I called my neighbors to alert them, they said that the other night they saw a coyote while walking their dog home. They had also heard of a dog that was on a leash that was attacked by a coyote. Please, please watch your cats and dogs!"

Friday, June 10 @ 6:30 p.m.

"Mike, there was a coyote howl and bark in the hills just above Raphael Restaurant. It was particularly shocking because it was still daylight and I usually hear them at night. I quickly brought in the two small dogs we have in our backyard. Thanks for the Coyote Alert on your site, thought you should know."—Unidentified caller phoning into Patch.

Wednesday, June 8 @ 11 p.m.

"I pulled up to my house, on Laurelgrove just north of Moorpark, and saw a large one drinking some sort of beverage out of a plastic cup left by the curb. Tried chasing him away several times ... he had little fear and just kept about 20 or 30 feet away from me. After quite a while he finally gave up and moved on. I live close to the wash, I think they use that as a travel path. If you live close to one, I'd recommend extra precautions."—Chris Trent

Tuesday, June 7 @ 10 p.m.

"I saw a coyote crossing Mulholland Drive near the intersection of Wrightwood, looked like he had a small bunny or rat in its mouth," wrote E.B. who lives in Beverly Hills.

Tuesday, June 7 @ 9:30 p.m.

A small, skinny coyote was seen rummaging through the trash bin behind a business in Universal City and chased away. It ran toward Ventura Boulevard.

Sunday, June 5

See the attached video of the Small Animal Rescue Team rescuing an indoor cat that managed to get out and was chased up a tree, 32 feet up, by coyotes. (see the amazing video above.)

Sunday, June 5 @ 10:30 p.m.

"Sunday night at 10:30 a coyote was spotted in the back yard of a home on Alcove between Woodbridge and Valleyheart."

Sunday, June 5 @ 5 p.m.

"June 5th 5:00 p.m. corner of Radford & Sarah."—Marcella Bell

Sunday, June 5 @ 9:30 a.m.

From Crystal—"Sunday 9:30 a.m. in front yard of house on Milbank near Beeman. My dog barked at him and he did stay away."

Sunday, June 5 @ 12:30 a.m.

"I saw a coyote around 12:30 am around June 5th. He was crossing Moorpark Street at Sunnyslope. He walked west on Moorpark and turned down Rye Street."

Saturday, June 4 @ 5 p.m.

A report that on Friday night a coyote was running down Laurelgrove headed towards Cantura Street, and after being chased away, it kept returning. "This coyote CHARGED AT ME twice as if it was going to attack me," according to the report. "I made a report with NHPD and LA Animal Services." This coyote ran down Cantura Street between Rhodes and Vantage. It also ran down the alley behind Cantura Street and Ventura Blvd. It ran down Hillslope, Laurel Terrace and was chasedup the hill on Rhodes and Laurel Terrace.

Saturday, June 3 @ 4 p.m.

Distraught owner of cat said he heard a coyote prowling the neighborhood near his home above Universal City off Cahuenga Boulevard and has posted signs of his lost cat. Even if there is bad news, he hopes that someone will notify him of the whereabouts of his cat (see attached flyer in photo gallery): Black cat with white collar.

Saturday, June 3 @ 9 a.m.

Close to Franklin Canyon, west of TreePeople, north of Mulholland Drive, a pack of coyotes, perhaps five or six, that did not seem afraid of cars.

Friday, June 3 @ 1 a.m.

A small scrawny coyote crossing Mulholland going up the hill into the residential area.

Thursday, June 2 @ 9:30 p.m.

An pack of coyotes heard attacking an animal in the hills above Valley View Elementary School.

Wednesday, June 1

Tabby cat missing for two weeks found dead due to animal attack near Wilkinson and Valleyheart Drive.

 

Here's a note from Irene Deblasio:

Dear Coyote,

 We are intruding on your land -- I'm aware of that but...

 You parade up and down my street in the midday sun --

you must be hungry, thirsty and tired, I'm sure.

Problem is: we have developed a lifestyle which includes:

walking, riding bikes, playing with our pets,gardening, and so on. 

We've been seeking a solution because frankly,

My Dear, you scare the daylightsout of us when you chase little children down our street. 

You keep us awake when you howl all night too.

We've called Animal Regulation ("Nothing we can do, call Wildlife"),

Game and Wildlife ("Sorry, we can'thelp you"),

City Offices ("Not our department")

and LAPD where we reached a most understanding femaleofficer who offered these suggestions: 

1. Don't leave dog or cat food outdoors

2. Don't leave trash containers  open.

3. Do NOT FEED the coyote.

4. Call 911 if he attacks you.

Thank you so much for the suggestions.  Let's just hope he has a cell phone in his stomach.


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