As a coyote pranced (yes, pranced) across Los Carneros Road like it owned Goleta, I almost had to stomp on my breaks to avoid colliding with the magnificent hunter.

The close call didn’t phase it in the least. After crossing the road, it halted 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. I’ve seen coyotes vanish in the blink of an eye and I trusted what I saw.

This is the time of year when we see more than the usual number of varmints foraging throughout our neighborhoods. The weather is hot and dry, and they range farther afield in search of water and prey.

Many varmints are adept at stealth hunting in town. Raccoons, skunks and possums forage mostly at night and are good at staying out of sight. They have few enemies in town, except for us humans. 

Most pet dogs going after one of these hunters are quickly taught a painful lesson. Size isn’t everything. A snarly disposition or a horrible scent gland can go a long way in a fight.

Large predators including cougar, bobcat and bear forage around the fringes of town. It is rare to spot a close-by cougar or bobcat because they are masters of stealth. A bear, however, tends to be kinda loud.

A coyote remains high on the food chain because it ranges far, 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.

Part of their reasoning is that daytime is when we have more of our pets outside where they are vulnerable.

Our pets make fine meals for coyotes. At this season, more than any other, it is important to protect your pets.

Keep your cats indoors. Keep a sharp eye on small dogs. Hide your hamsters. 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.