Fliers warn of coyotes on Eastside

Deepa Bharath

EASTSIDE -- A 17th Street resident who thinks a pack of coyotes

fatally mauled her cat has put up fliers warning neighbors of the threat.

Jo Hendriks said coyotes are a problem for Eastside residents year

after year.

“I know several people in this area who have lost their pets,” she

said. “That’s why I put up the warning signs after I lost my cat, so my

neighbors can be on guard and protect their pets.”

Hendriks said a neighbor found her 11-year-old cat, Stormy, a white

Himalayan with silver highlights, half eaten on a street corner.

“The police say this is a problem only for the Westside,” she said.

“But there are people here on the Eastside who have lost cats and dogs.”

Hendriks’ little white signs with orange letters caution residents

that “coyotes are feeding on Eastside pets” and that “they have been seen

in packs killing small animals.”

Michele Gourlay, a Santa Ana Avenue resident, said she was concerned

after seeing the fliers in her neighborhood.

“I have a small dog and I’m worried,” she said. “I’m especially

concerned if they are hunting in packs.”

City officials said they have received only one report of a coyote

attack in Costa Mesa this year.

But coyote sightings and attacks are pretty common this time of year

as the animals hunt for food, said Robert Bork, a Costa Mesa animal

control supervisor.

“Coyotes do have easy access to our city, particularly through the

Back Bay and Talbert Park,” he said.

Bork advised residents to keep small pets inside the house during the

late evening and early morning hours, when coyotes like to hunt.

“It’s also important to keep food sources like garbage bins away from

the street because it attracts the animals,” he said.

Bork said the city sends out warning fliers to residents if coyotes

are sighted.

“So far this year, we haven’t sighted any coyotes,” Bork said.

Until animal control officials take over, Hendriks said she is going

to continue warning her neighbors.

“It’s very important,” she said. “I think people have the right to

know.”