If you\u2019ve ever seen coyotes in your neighborhood, you might want to be on higher alert than usual in coming months.<\/p>\n
This is mating season for coyotes, which means that pupping season \u2014 when they give birth and rear their young \u2014 will soon follow, leading to slight changes in behavior.<\/p>\n
\u201cGenerally coyotes breed between January and March and typically mate for life,\u201d according to Autumn Welch, wildlife operations manager for the San Diego Humane Society<\/a>. \u201cSo this time of year, you might see juveniles who have dispersed from the pack \u2026 looking for their own territory and a mate. You may see them scouting around.\u201d<\/p>\n Coyotes that have already found a mate may use deep bushes for birthing dens, so Welch advises keeping vegetation trimmed so coyotes don\u2019t see it as a place to give birth.<\/p>\n A coyote\u2019s pregnancy is only about two months, and pups are born from March to May,\u00a0often in litters about four at a time.<\/p>\n The female coyotes often stay with the newborns in the den while the males go out to collect food. Sometimes, siblings from a previous litter will stay and watch the pups. Though the mothers may venture out, it usually won\u2019t be far from the den, Welch said.<\/p>\n After several weeks, pups may start exploring and learning to hunt. At that age, much of a coyote\u2019s diet consists of rodents, small birds, fruit and plants, Welch said. Thus, an added suggestion to avoid attracting coyotes is to pick up any fallen fruit in your yard.<\/p>\n At the same time, Welch said, mother coyotes might become \u201ca little more aggressive or protective because their pups are still vulnerable and young.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou might see a coyote follow you, but that could be because you are close to the den and she wants to make sure you stay away from her babies,\u201d Welch said.<\/p>\n Coyotes have \u201cstrong family bonds. Like us with our kids, they want their pups to be OK,\u201d Welch said. \u201cIt\u2019s just that awareness we recommend people have.\u201d<\/p>\n Over the years, coyote sightings have been reported in La Jolla near schools, the bike path and in residential areas, even during the day, when coyotes typically aren\u2019t seen. They even have been spotted at and near the beach, including Windansea and La Jolla Shores.<\/p>\n In October, three sightings were reported on Colima Street near Bird Rock Elementary School.<\/p>\n And in November, two young children were confronted by a coyote near Westfield UTC mall and a 3-year-old was bitten on an arm and a hip and was taken to a hospital. The other child also was injured and was treated at a hospital.<\/p>\n Still, coyotes \u201cgenerally avoid humans,\u201d according to the San Diego Humane Society\u2019s website, and wildlife experts say the biggest risk they present in urban areas is to small pets.<\/p>\n The Humane Society recommends that residents take the following measures to prevent confrontation with coyotes:<\/p>\n \u2022 Don\u2019t feed pets outside or feed them there for more than an hour, and remove the food and water bowls afterward<\/p>\n \u2022 Don\u2019t leave your animals unattended and off leash in public areas<\/p>\n \u2022 Don\u2019t feed coyotes<\/p>\n \u2022 Practice good housekeeping, removing fallen fruit and using enclosed bins for compost and trash to avoid attracting coyotes<\/p>\n \u2022 Leave coyotes alone, and if confronted by one, use \u201chazing\u201d methods including yelling, waving and making noises. Don\u2019t run away.<\/p>\n Additional guidelines are available at sdhumane.org\/resources\/coyote-hazing-guidelines<\/a>. The Humane Society also has fliers with information about coexisting with coyotes at sdhumane.org\/resources\/wildlife-fliers<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Urban Coyote Research Project released an article<\/a> detailing how to prevent conflict with coyotes, noting the importance of coexistence in non-threatening situations.<\/p>\n \u201cOur relationship with coyotes is directly affected by our behavior,\u201d according to the article. \u201cCoyotes react to us, and we can foster mutual respect or a lack of respect through cues we send to them.\u201d<\/p>\n