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October 8, 2008
Coyote Bites Jogger in Griffith Park
A coyote as seen in Griffith Park | Photo by Ilpo's Sojourn via Flickr
It was just last month when coyotes reportedly killed Paris Hilton's dogs (she denied it, though), as well as pets owned by Demi Moore and Halle Berry. And yesterday, a jogger was bitten by a coyote, but her injuries were not serious and she did nothing to provoke the incident.
A park ranger told the Daily News that "the coyote was responding to feeding by other park patrons. The coyote expected to get fed." Apparently, people have been feeding the coyotes over the past few months which has changed their behavior. The ranger said coyotes have enough food in the wild and that feeding them does not do the animals any service.
In fact, the first two rules in Project Wildlife's guide to living with coyotes say don't feed them. "1. Don’t feed coyotes; they could become dependent upon humans for food. 2. Don’t leave your pet food outdoor."
"Coyotes, to my way of thinking, are as emblematic of L.A. as the ubiquitous palm tree," explains writer Rodger Jacobs on his blog. "They may be an occasional nuisance — my ex-wife’s cat was coyote food a few years back — but Angelenos just gotta learn to live with their presence; after all, they were there first."
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Sorry to be so skeptical but the jogger did nothing to provoke the attack according to who...? I know Chief Al Torres is the one being quoted from behind his desk at HQ. But he's no eyewitness so what's he basing his assessment on besides the testimony of the jogger. My bet is you're doing something questionable if you allow a coyote to get close enough to bite you.
In the dozen-plus times I've encountered coyotes, my standard practice when confronted (be it the pair who patrol our neighborhood in Silver Lake; or their wilder cousins in the hills) is to go on the offensive and present myself as a threat by chasing them, making noise, and throwing things in their general directions. It's worked every time and I've never been bitten once.
Trouble is for every one of me that do the right thing and scare after them out of respect and admiration, there are 10 others who'll lob 'em some french fries or a half-eaten Twinkee thinking they're helping. Idiots.
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Yes, when I run I like to carry french fries and Twinkies to feed coyotes.
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I carry skittles because its funny to see rainbow- tongued coyotes.
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How you gonna bite me, Coyote?
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Let's say it one more time, people: coyotes, adorable as they may be, are ... P-R-E-D-A-T-O-R-S. Predators. Do not feed the predators.
Thanks for the nod, Zach.
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yeah taste the rainbow...
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didn't you know that the coyotes are on Atkins? This IS LA people, no twinkies here