Coyotes Sighted in Los Gatos

The flier says, "Coyote Sightings," and it alerts residents who live behind Los Gatos' that a pack of three was seen on Wedgewood Avenue and Palmer Drive Monday and Tuesday in the wee hours of the night.

One cat, identified as "porch kitty, Cleo," is already missing, the flier says. "Please keep your pets inside!" it warns.

Los Gatos resident Ginger Davis said that on Monday around 1:30 a.m., her family was awakened by howling and "yip-yip" sounds in front of her condo, which is in a small complex of about 50 units behind the Courtside Club and Sports Resort of Los Gatos, 14675 Winchester Blvd.

When she peered out the window, she said she saw a pack of three coyotes, medium sized, by the communal mailbox, about 20 feet from the condo.

The coyotes "were carrying on like they had made a kill," she said.

She went outside to see if she could see more and found two meandering down the street, while one just stood and stared at her, "not afraid or running off."

Davis notified her neighbors and the rest of the condo residents Monday morning by placing the flier on her mailbox.

So far two cats have been reported missing since Sunday, and the pack of three was back Tuesday, she said.

On the Los Gatos Patch Q&A feature, Davis expressed her concerns, saying she didn't know who to contact and had placed coyote sighting notices on Wedgewood Avenue, which parallels her street, as well as Wimbeldom Drive, which runs up to Winchester Boulevard, where Courtside is located.

Town officials on Tuesday said residents who see coyotes on the prowl must call Santa Clara County Vector Control District at 408-918-4770 or 800-675-1155.

They also indicated coyote sightings are not new in town and that trapping and killing the animals doesn't work.

The following are some tips offered by Vector Control to live with coyotes:

• Never feed or attempt to "tame a coyote.
• Store trash in tightly lidded containers, prevented from tipping over by a rope or chain.
• Don't leave pet food outside, and take pets in at night.
• Pick up fallen fruit and cover compost piles.
• Fence yards and/or animal enclosures with wire mesh at least 6 feet tall and extending 6 inches below the ground.
• Install an automatic lighting system around the house.
• If followed by a coyote, make loud noises. If this fails, throw rocks in the animal's direction.