How to live amid critters of coast and canyons

Lauren Vane

Living in a city where the canyons meet the sea has its obvious

benefits: spectacular sunsets, intimate beaches and -- coyotes and

rattlesnakes?

The price to pay for living in a coastal desert environment is

having to live with predators such as these, critters that not only

scare humans, but can pose a danger to household pets.

Annoying as they may be to some, these animals are native to the

area and aren’t likely to be leaving soon.

In fact, they were here before people were. It’s a matter of

educating humans on how to live among them , said Animal Services

Officer Dave Pietarila.

Coyotes are a common challenge , especially in North Laguna, said

Pietarila, a three-year veteran who previously worked for 15 years as

a veterinary technician before joining Laguna Beach’s Animal

Services.

Coyotes, which are most active in the early mornings and evenings,

are the predominate predator in North America, Pietarila said.

In addition to coyotes, rattlesnakes are another indigenous animal

that keeps animal services on its toes.

Officers have responded to calls of rattlesnakes inside houses,

but most commonly they are found on driveways and in garages when the

pavement heats up with the afternoon sun, Pietarila said.

Despite the frightening sound of the warning rattle, a rattlesnake

usually won’t bite a human unless the human steps on it, Pietarila

said.

“As long as you don’t antagonize it, it’s not going to do

anything,” Pietarila said.

Unfortunately, domestic animals such as cats and dogs can’t always

read the warning signs of a predator about to attack.

Cats and small dogs can become an easy target for coyotes, said

Pete Kvarnstrom, a veterinarian with the Laguna Beach Animal

Hospital.

Pet owners should keep cats inside and dogs on a leash to avoid

encounters with a coyote or rattlesnake, Kvarnstrom said.

Kvarnstrom said he’s known of several situations where an owner

was walking a small dog and a coyote attempted to take the dog.

Feeding raccoons or skunks that come onto private property is also

a danger because these animals can cause significant trauma to pets,

Kvarnstrom said.

Rattlesnakes are a threat mainly to dogs, Kvarnstrom said. If a

dog is bitten, the venom causes extreme swelling and bacterial

infection.

If treated promptly, the pet is likely to survive a snake bite,

Kvarnstrom said. He added he cannot remember a time when a pet has

died from a snake bite while being cared for at the hospital.

As far as preventing contact with coyotes or rattlesnakes, there’s

only so much animal services can do. Even though coyotes are a known

danger, there’s no effective way to catch them. Coyotes are quick,

and if they don’t want to be caught, they’re not going to be caught,

Pietarila said.

When responding to snake calls, Pietarila will attempt to catch

the snake using long tongs and a cage. The snakes are then taken out

into the canyon to be released. Pietarila will often wait 24 hours to

release a snake because it is too angry right after it’s been caught.

Pietarila said there are steps people can take to cope with the

rattlesnake and coyote.

Deterrence is the code when it comes to coyotes. If an experience

at a certain location is unpleasant, the coyote is not likely to

return, Pietarila said. He advises people to make a “rattle can” by

inserting pennies into an empty soda can.

Pietarila said throwing the can at the coyote will entice it to

leave. If that doesn’t work, use an air horn, he said.