\u201cThe peak of their mating activity happens around February, so it\u2019s kind of romantic and coincides with the month of Valentine\u2019s Day,\u201d said Maximiliano Regis, chief deputy of the Los Angeles County Department of Agricultural Commissioner.<\/p>\n
During this time adult coyotes are moving around and in some cases traveling long distances in search of mates and food sources. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn order for them to have genetic diversity they move somewhere else, because if they stayed in the same area, they would be mating possibly with their siblings,\u201d Regis said. <\/p>\n
You might see a coyote looking for their life partner or a couple of the animals patrolling and protecting their den. The coyote pups won\u2019t emerge from the den with their mother until April or May. <\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what you need to know about your four-legged neighbors and what to do if you encounter them. <\/p>\n
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A coyote with a collar and ear tag struts near Tongva Peak in the Verdugo Mountains. The bright lights of downtown L.A. shine below; Griffith Park sits in darkness to the right.<\/p>\n
(Johanna Turner)<\/p>\n
Coyotes\u2019 long history in Los Angeles\u2019 ecosystem<\/p>\n
Coyotes are native to Southern California, so much so that they\u2019re the third-most abundant animal found at the La Brea Tar Pits, with skeletons dating back more than 40,000 years to the Pleistocene Era, long before humans showed up, according to the museum<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re so successful that they have made it all the way from the West Coast to the East Coast and all the way down to the Panama Canal,\u201d Regis said. <\/p>\n In the last 50 years coyotes increased their numbers and geographical range especially in suburban environments where an ample food supply is available, according to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources<\/a>. Suburban areas of Southern California have some of the highest coyote population densities in the nation.<\/p>\n Several years ago Los Angeles County authorities collared some coyotes to track their movement within the region, Regis said. \u201cSome were perfectly happy just being in one neighborhood,\u201d he said. \u201cOthers moved from San Gabriel Valley all the way down to Long Beach.\u201d <\/p>\n These animals play a vital role in the ecosystem as their diet consists of small rodents such as mice, rats and squirrels. But coyotes aren\u2019t picky: They will eat what\u2019s available including rabbits, raccoons, birds, insects, fruit, vegetables, the contents of your garbage or compost, outdoor pet food and small pets. <\/p>\n The facts on coyote attacks on humans<\/p>\n Coyotes are generally shy and wary of people. But their curiosity often gets the better of them and they have been known to check out human activity from \u201cwhat they perceive to be a safe distance,\u201d according to the Department of Agricultural Commissioner.<\/p>\n There has been only one documented fatal coyote attack on a human in California, in Glendale in 1981<\/a>. A coyote attacked and mauled 3-year-old Kelly Keen about 20 feet from her front door. At the time Keen\u2019s neighbors were regularly feeding coyotes, LAist reported<\/a>. <\/p>\n A coyote can attack if it becomes dependent on humans for food and can become demanding and even aggressive for a meal, according to the county agricultural commissioner.<\/p>\n In some cases a coyote might follow you, but Regis said don\u2019t take this as predatory behavior, \u201cthey\u2019re making sure you\u2019re leaving the area.\u201d <\/p>\n A coyote hunts for food on the banks of the Dominguez Channel. <\/p>\n (Carolyn Cole\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n What to do when you encounter a coyote<\/p>\n If you stumble upon a curious coyote that doesn\u2019t run away when it sees you, experts say you should haze them by walking toward the coyote while waving your arms and making loud noises. <\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1767937993_259_.jpeg\")
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