California coyotes breed in January, February, and March.
Gestation takes about two months, so pups are born in March through May.
Both the breeding and birthing natural cycles can cause changes in behavior
What to do:
If you encounter a coyote with your pet, do not run away or turn your back to it. Calmly back away instead. You can also try to scare it away by making loud noises and acting aggressively.
Remember to:
Refrain from letting pets run free. If they are outside, keep them on a leash and have a close eye on them. This also goes for when walking the dog. Otherwise, keep pets indoors, especially at night.
Encounters or attacks on humans by coyotes are occurring more often as "our" land and "their" land grow and lessen. As seen in the current Press their behavior is or has become more bolden.
The best way to avoid conflicts with coyotes:
Do not feed them (or any other wildlife for that matter).
Remove bird feeders from your yards --as when seeds fall to the ground, they attract small animals, on which coyotes’ prey.
Do not feed pets outside, as even scraps or morsels left behind may serve as attractants to wildlife.
Keep garbage can lids tightly secured and take your trash out on the morning of trash pickup, and not the night beforehand.
If you see a coyote, do not run from it. Much like when seeing a loose dog, be aware of it, yet calmly walk away, and inside if possible.
Do not let your pets run free and/or unattended.
If you are out walking your dog, especially after sunset and at night, it is best to refrain from using retractable leashes. If you are too far from your dog, a coyote may only see the dog and not the human that is attached to the dog, given the reach of the retractable leash. Also, if walking after sunset, be extra aware of your surroundings – maybe even keep a flashlight with you, as a deterrent.
