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Ranger Shares Tips To Keep Santa Clarita Wildlife, Coyotes At Bay

Living in the Santa Clarita Valley, residents often see many different types of wildlife from birds to coyotes, rabbits to mountain lions.


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Santa Clarita Valley residents have reported seeing more coyotes near their yards or when going out for a walk.

“We live and work on what we call the urban edge,” said Ranger Frank Hoffman, who works at the Placerita Canyon Nature Center. “There’s a lot of things that people can do (to keep wildlife from coming into your yard) but education is the best thing.

“With all of the fires that we’ve been having, this has been burning all of their shelters. It burns the foods for the smaller animals. With the lack of rain, we’re not getting any food sources for the rodents and smaller animals,” Hoffman said, adding that if the smaller animals don’t have food, they die, bringing the “apex” predators closer to suburban areas to take advantage of garbage, pet food and sometimes, domestic pets.

The biggest tip is to not feed wild animals, and many Santa Clarita Valley residents may be feeding wild animals without knowing it, he said.

“It’s against the law to feed wild animals,” Hoffman said. “Stop feeding them and it will stop drawing them to the properties. Animals need food, water, shelter and arrangement.”

Ensuring trash can lids are closed and secure, and cleaning up after your pet if you feed them outside are just some way to prevent coyotes and other animals from coming into your yard in search of food, Hoffman said.

Another wildlife attraction is bird feeders and sources of water.

“Rats and mice eat the bird seed at night,” Hoffman said. “If you’re attracting rats and mice, you’re attracting animals that eat the rats and mice.”

Hoffman also suggests bringing pets indoors and closing any dog doors at night.

“I’ve always taught people to pick up fallen fruit from fruit trees, too,” Hoffman said. “If people don’t get to their fallen fruit and throw it out, then you’re attracting animals to your yard.”

The most important thing Hoffman suggests is to “tell your neighbors this information and have neighborhood meetings.”

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

KHTS AM 1220 - Santa Clarita Radio

Ranger Shares Tips To Keep Santa Clarita Wildlife, Coyotes At Bay

One comment

  1. Within the month of July I have seen how the Yotes come into the Copper Hill area. They dig under perimeter fencing and traverse the yards in my neighborhood hopping up a wall and then down into the streets. Both my neighbors and I see them early morning sitting on yards next to busy streets. They usually go back the same routes before the sun gets to be 9AM high.
    My next door neighbors lost their little Chihuahua at about 8:30 one morning as they sat having coffee on their back porch. The Yote came in from the front yard hopping the brick wall and circling to the back porch snatching the dog up right in front of the Wife and her Mother. My wife was have tea on our next door porch when the dog and Ladies started screaming in horror! The Yote dropped the dog and ran up the hill through the adjoining fence (new wrought iron with gaps under it). The dog was taken to the vet but had punctured lungs and tendon damage.
    Rest in Peace Elsa, you were cute and a good companion for the little boy that lived there. Lucky he did not see the incident.
    I don’t let my Dog out ( 90 lb Border Collie) until the sun gets up and the yotes have made their trip through the neighborhood yards. My wife still has her morning tea but keeps a sharp eye on the hills behind us. Many times we have seen these. Some as big as a German Shepard and some very lean looking.
    Knowing what to do when one confronts you typically takes throwing something at it. They tend to stand their ground now as food sources are almost nil. The few Rabbits I see up in the garden area only are seen for a few days then are gone. My next door neighbor and I have hunted yotes for a long time. Might be time to thin them out again.

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About Jessica Boyer

Jessica is an award-winning journalist, photographer, videographer and artist. She has worked with news organizations including NBC Los Angeles, KHTS AM 1220, and the Pierce College Roundup News. She is studying to receive a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism with an emphasis on Photojournalism and a minor in Communications at California State University, Northridge. She has studied and worked in many fields including filmmaking, journalism, studio photography, and some graphic design. She began her journalism journey at the Arroyo Seco Conquestador News Network and the Saugus High School News Network.