Coyote sightings often prompt owners to keep their small pets indoors. But what do you do when a coyote breaks into your home? This is what a resident of Woodland Hills experienced.
Julie Levine runs a non-profit dog rescue called Canine Rescue Connection.
Saturday morning around 1 a.m., at home, Levine received a visit from a dog she was not expecting.
Surveillance footage captured the moment the coyote entered his home through a dog door and spent about three minutes inside.
“He walked along this pathway like you see in the video, jumped right here, the motion sensor lights came on and he found the dog door,” Levine said.
Levine didn’t realize she had an intruder until her senior rescue dogs started barking.
“I think he walked three quarters of the way down the hall and maybe saw us and kind of realized what he was up against and kind of took off,” Levine said. “I have beagles and that’s what the tracking was, they got the smell in their nose and they just went crazy,”
The coyote had already escaped, Levine checked her cameras to figure out what it was and couldn’t believe what she saw.
Although coyotes rarely attack humans, in April a coyote attacked a child at Huntington Beach Pier, leaving her with facial injuries.
Entering a house is also not something you often hear about, but coyotes have been known to injure and even kill small pets.
“They’re bold, they’re smart, they search for food, they search for water, and they might just bring some friends next time,” Levine said.
Levine thinks this coyote has been in his neighborhood before. Just last week, surveillance cameras captured this video of his neighbor chasing a coyote from his property.
“Coyotes are out there, we all know they can climb fences. It was a 6-foot fence,” Levine said.
Levine says she’s grateful the coyote didn’t reach her dogs and will take extra steps to keep her precious pups safe.
Now Levine’s dog house door is closed and she wants to make sure it never happens again.
Coyotes are highly adaptable animals that have learned to live comfortably in many environments, including around humans. Wildlife experts say we played a part in leaving food and trash behind for an appealing snack.
By nature, they are afraid of humans. They primarily hunt rodents and help keep that population under control, but won’t ignore an easy meal.
Here is the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s list of coyotes precautions.
Never feed or attempt to tame coyotes. The result can be deadly conflicts with pets or livestock, or serious injury to young children.
Do not leave young children or pets outside unattended.
Install motion-sensitive lighting around the house.
Cut shrubs at ground level to reduce hiding places.
Be aware that coyotes are most active in the spring when feeding and protecting their young.
If followed by a coyote, make loud noises. If that fails, throw rocks in the direction of the animal.
If a coyote attacks a person, immediately contact the Department of Fish and Wildlife or the nearest law enforcement office.
Put garbage in tightly closed containers that cannot tip over.
Remove water sources, especially in dry climates.
Bring pets in at night and don’t leave pet food out.
Avoid using bird feeders as they attract rodents and other coyote prey.
Provide secure enclosures for rabbits, poultry and other livestock.
Pick up fallen fruit and cover compost heaps.
Ask your neighbors to follow these tips.
