Lincoln man cites three coyotes fighting on his porch

Lincoln resident Jim Johnson said his porch was left covered in blood after three coyotes turned the front of his home into a battle ground on Feb. 20. Johnson lives in Sun City Lincoln Hills and caught the incident on his home surveillance system. After hearing noise on his front porch, he opened the door to find three coyotes fleeing west toward Spring Valley Parkway. "My wife and I relocated to Lincoln in May of 2017. We moved from the Blackhawk Area where we had open space behind our property. Yes, we had an occasional coyote about once every few months," Johnson said. "Since moving here, there has been a significant increase in coyote sightings. They casually cruise down the center of the street, day and night. They stalk people walking their little dogs all the time. I ride my bike frequently and have stopped numerous times to inform one of our elderly residents that a coyote was in a bush only a few feet away. I have also chased numerous coyotes away from where people are walking with grandchildren and pets." Johnson said he doesn't normally worry about coyotes because he knows how to avoid them. "Personally, I don't worry about them as I know how to discourage them from being around. But going outside after hearing a dog's death cry or to clean up my porch, is very disturbing," Johnson said. "There are at least three packs within Sun City that have definite territories." According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, coyotes are smart adaptable canines that have learned to survive and often thrive in urban and residential areas. Coyotes play an important role in the ecosystem, helping to keep rodent populations under control. They are by nature fearful of humans. However, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage said that "if coyotes are given access to human food and garbage, their behavior changes. They lose caution and fear. They may begin to harass domestic livestock and pets .They might threaten human safety. They might be killed. Relocating a problem coyote only moves the problem to another neighborhood." The California Department of Fish and Wildlife offered tips on its web page to stay safe while "living with coyotes," such as never feed a coyote, always keep trash, recycling and compost in secure bins, wait to put out trash until the morning of collection, keep doors and windows closed and locked when unoccupied, bring pets inside at night, keep livestock in secure pens at night, pick ripe fruit off trees and promptly collect fruit that falls. For more information visit the department's web page at wildlife.ca.gov.