Coyotes seemingly thrive in San Francisco

Coyotes, with no predators to fear, are at ease in San Francisco greenbelt environs such as Golden Gate Park. Based on findings, the city's population has grown to as large as 100. Coyotes, with no predators to fear, are at ease in San Francisco greenbelt environs such as Golden Gate Park. Based on findings, the city's population has grown to as large as 100. Photo: David Cruz, Natures Lantern Photo: David Cruz, Natures Lantern Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Coyotes seemingly thrive in San Francisco 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

It seems that every nook and cranny of San Francisco's parks and greenbelts has a coyote or two hiding in it.

As winter takes hold, I would estimate more than 100 coyotes in San Francisco, based on crops of pups verified in the past year and firsthand field-scout sightings (often with photos), along with a field study and photography by David Cruz of Natures Lantern.

A little more than a year ago, San Francisco officials estimated there were only about 15 coyotes in the city.

Since then, rangers for the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department also have seen the coyotes, so often that "there's no way we can estimate how many there are," said Raymond Falzon, a dispatcher for the rangers who often gets the reports. A hotline for coyote sightings has been established at (415) 554-9400.

Le-Ellis Brown, a captain for San Francisco Animal Care and Control, said a year ago that coyotes were all over the city, just as reported by field scouts.

In the past six months, I have received reports of first-person coyote encounters from more than 25 locations in San Francisco, often with multiple reports from these places:

Golden Gate Park (Stow Lake, bison enclosure, archery field, other locations), McLaren Park, Gleneagles Golf Course, the Presidio (and Mountain Lake), Harding Park and nearby golf courses, Lake Merced, Presidio Golf Course, Stern Grove (and Pine Lake), Mount Sutro and Twin Peaks (and Twin Peaks Reservoir), Mount Davidson (and Stanford Heights Reservoir), Miraloma Park, Fort Funston, Lands End and Seacliff, Lincoln Park Golf Course, Glen Park, Glen Canyon, the outer Richmond District and Telegraph Hill.

Coyotes have emerged even on busy city streets. In one episode, reported by Louise and Mike Jonas, a coyote crossed Sunset Boulevard around Vicente Street, at midafternoon.

I have reviewed nearly 100 photographs of coyotes and their families taken in San Francisco, and in every case, the coyotes look healthy and well fed. This year's class of pups appears to have had high survival rates.

Coyotes will trap and kill dogs and cats if they can, but based on photos, they have flourished by eating gophers, squirrels and rabbits. Although proof is thin, another theory is they have thrived on feral cats in Golden Gate Park.

When coyotes are around, dog safety is always a concern. A pack of coyotes will sometimes send out a yearling to entice a playful dog to follow it, and then from a position of strength, the pack will ambush the dog.

For the most part, when coyotes, especially a family, are located, San Francisco Rec and Park will post signs alerting dog owners to not let their pet run off leash in the area.

As long as there are plentiful food sources and hiding places, coyote populations will keep expanding.

D-Day imminent

California's recreation lakes reached their lowest levels in several years last week, and with cold, mostly dry weather marching through the state, some are talking the "D" word, as in drought. So much water has been shipped south the past two summers that water managers are putting all of their eggs in one basket, hoping that this winter will end up being a wet one and refill these lakes:

-- Bad shape: Lake Kaweah (5 percent full), Hensley (5 percent), Success (6), Eastman (9), Isabella (10), Black Butte (12), Pine Flat (17) and giant San Luis (26). You read it right. These lakes are about 90 percent empty.

-- Not good: Folsom Lake (23 percent full), McClure (24), Mendocino (25), Beardsley (28), New Hogan (30), Shasta Lake (37), Oroville (39) and New Melones (43).

-- In L.A., Pyramid Lake is 96 percent full and Castaic is at 85 percent. Funny, isn't it? Or is it?

Layers in cold

If venturing in the snow or facing prolonged exposure in the cold, this is how to stay warm and dry: Wear a Polartec (or another bicomponent knit) underwear set, then a fleece layer (vest and pants) for warmth and insulation. Finish with a Gore-Tex shell, such as a snow bib and a wind-resistant jacket. Wear gloves, skullcap and SmartWool socks inside Gore-Tex insulated boots. Apply sunscreen on your face and wear polarized sunglasses.