It was right in the middle of the afternoon when I dang near had to stomp on my brakes to avoid a collision with a magnificent hunter — a coyote prancing across Los Carneros Road as if it owned Goleta.
The coyote didn’t seem perturbed in the least, and after crossing the road, it halted a few yards beyond the road to gaze haughtily at me before simply disappearing into the brush.
The disappearing act was so sudden and absolute that I was left wondering if I had really just seen the critter. It was as if the magical coyote just disappeared as in “Poof!”
This is the time of year when we see numerous varmints foraging throughout our neighborhoods and along our creek beds. The weather is hot and dry, and they find it necessary to range farther afield in search of water and prey.
Many varmints are adept at stealth hunting in town. Raccoons, possums and skunks forage mostly at night and try to stay out of site. They have few enemies in town, except for humans.
Most dogs going after one of these hunters are quickly taught a lesson in humility because size isn’t everything. A snarly disposition or a horrible scent gland can go a long way in a fight. As with people, the psychological fight is half the battle.
Large critters such as cougar, bobcat and bear forage primarily throughout the fringes of town.
A coyote is high on the food chain because it ranges farther, hunts smart, and will eat most anything. Of all the foraging wild varmints who venture into town, the coyote is the one that earns the lion’s share of my respect. Fresh meat is its first choice, but most everything else ranks second.
I most often see coyotes hunting in the pre-dawn hours. The daytime foraging pattern of the one I nearly collided with reminds me they are expanding their time range as well as their geographic range during this dry and hot time of year. Perhaps that is because daytime is when we have more of our pets outside where they are vulnerable.
Our pets make fine meals for a coyote. At this season, more than any other, it is important to protect our household pets. Keep cats indoors and a sharp eye on small dogs. Hide your hampsters, and hang your bird cage someplace safe. Leave your pet lizards in the house. Cover the koi pond.
Take every precaution to keep your pets from becoming prey. Think of how awful it would be to watch a coyote halt and gaze haughtily at you while your kitty was hanging from its hungry mouth. You can prevent that from happening, if you take the precautions I described.
— Capt. David Bacon operates WaveWalker Charters and is president of SOFTIN Inc., a nonprofit organization providing seafaring opportunities for those in need. Visit softininc.blogspot.com to learn more about the organization and how you can help. Click here to read previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.
