Tips For Living Among Coyotes And Other Creatures

Bundle up, my friends, we are in for some windy and chilly weather this week, starting today. Meteorologists expect it to be the coldest storm so far this year with rain — and possibly even graupel — hitting the Los Angeles area as early as Wednesday night.

Tips For Living Among Coyotes

If this weather report is getting you down, rest assured — spring is only a month away. That should bring warmer temperatures and wildflowers, but also a few creatures that may or may not be welcome: coyotes, raccoons and insects of all varieties. It’s a good thing my colleagues at LAist have a couple guides on what you should know about living with them.

Let’s start with coyotes. They are native to the state, very adaptable and pretty much all over L.A. County. No doubt you’ve seen one or two roaming down your city street at dawn. I actually saw a coyote during my 18-mile run last week on the outskirts of a golf course near Griffith Park. They’re also fruitful, and it’s mating season now. That means pups will be born anywhere between March and May.

Now, these guys are our wildlife neighbors but they do have a bad rap, especially for snatching people’s pets. LA Explained reporter Caitlin Hernández has a good breakdown of their habits and behaviors, and tips for how to live safely and smartly with these canines.

If you are looking for a few dos and don'ts for warding off coyotes, LAist’s Ryanne Mena offers some ideas. Fences might be your best bet in this case, but Ryanne also has suggestions for dealing with mosquitoes, cockroaches and spiders. Raccoons, too. If these cute but sometimes aggressive critters are menacing your yard, consider buying something called Raccoon Eviction Fluid. From additional solutions like sound to essential oils, Ryanne’s guide for dealing with nature’s peskiest critters has you covered.

As always, stay happy and healthy, folks. There’s more news below — just keep reading.

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(After you stop hitting snooze)

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• The week has already begun but from film to music to opera, there's still plenty of things left to do. Check our list of events.

Wait... One More Thing

A Year After War Began, We Check In On Ukrainian Families Who Settled In LA

Maksym and Sasha Zaiets, a 27-year-old couple, embrace each other for a portrait inside their apartment in Brea, Calif. The couple fled Ukraine at the start of the Russian invasion with their 3-year-old son, Alex, and entered the U.S. through the Mexico border in Mexicali. According to the couple, their long-term future will depend on how the Russian invasion will impact Ukraine’s independence.

(Pablo Unzueta

/

LAist)

It’s almost been a year since Russia invaded Ukraine. The war has displaced tens of thousands and, as my colleague Leslie Berestein Rojas reported, more than 80,000 Ukrainians were admitted temporarily into the U.S. by the end of 2022. Many of them came to Southern California where a long established Ukrainian community helped them resettle in areas around Los Angeles County. Some hope to stay here; others would like to return home someday. All are pondering their future and wonder what’s next.

Leslie visited with two families — a young couple with a small child and an older couple whose grown children brought them to L.A. There’s been a lot of ups and downs. One woman notes that she misses “everything” about her community in Ukraine, even her doctor, but each family is making a home here — for now. Read about their experiences here.