COYOTE 'SEASON' IS HERE EXPERTS WARN OF INCREASED ACTIVITY BY WILY PREDATORS.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Coyotes - they are quick and cunning, look a lot like household pets and walk the streets with an attitude, now that pup season has arrived.

The chances of humans having encounters with coyotes on the paseos or highways will increase significantly for the next few months.

``We're entering the season of increased contact between people and coyotes,'' said Steve Edinger, assistant chief of the Department of Fish and Game for the South Coast region, which covers Los Angeles and Orange counties. ``These are not animals to regard as pets. They are wild animals that are predators, and they should be treated with caution and respect.''

Coyotes, which are members of the canine family and resemble medium- size dogs with their elongated snouts and light gray or tan coats, have been seen in all areas of Santa Clarita. Although they usually travel in darkness, it is not unusual to see them on the streets during the day, as they look for food for their litters. Females bear one litter of three to nine pups a year, usually in the spring.

The abundance of coyotes in the neighborhoods calls for increased vigilance by local residents. Pet food should not be left out, especially after dark, and a close watch should be kept on small children, cats and other small pets. Coyotes have been known to help themselves to water in backyard swimming pools, pet dishes and water hazards at golf courses.

Sgt. Jerry White of the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control's Castaic shelter said that, when coyotes are whelping, they naturally get more aggressive to protect their young.

``We don't know exactly how many, but there are a lot of coyotes in this area,'' he said. ``They go after bunnies, birds, cats and small dogs. I can't recall ever hearing of a person being attacked by a coyote up here, but usually when people get attacked, they have cornered the coyote. The coyote's first response is flight when they're threatened, but if they can't get away, their second response is fight and that's when people get in trouble.''

White advised anyone encountering a coyote to steer clear of the animal and call the authorities. He said that people will start to see the young pups coming out at the end of May and early June.

``They can call the Sheriff's Department or us or Fish and Game,'' he continued. ``We don't specifically handle them unless they're sick, injured, dead or contained in a yard; we go out on it because we can usually get there quicker.''

Preventive measures that homeowners can take include building fences at least five feet tall with a good footing. White pointed out that coyotes like to dig, but burying an 18 to 24-inch piece of chicken wire under the fence might keep the foragers out.

The Animal Control Web site also recommends that cat owners take special precautions, as cats are frequently victims of the hungry hunters.

``If cats cannot be kept indoors, posts can be installed in open space areas which provide an escape for the cats. These posts should be 7 feet tall, made of material the cat can climb and have enough space on top for the cat to sit.''

Coyote sightings can be reported to the California Department of Fish and Game at [phone] or to the local sheriff's station at [phone].

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com