Coyotes in San Francisco: A Growing Concern for Residents and Pet Owners

San‍ Francisco,‌ a city known for its vibrant culture and stunning natural beauty, is facing ⁤a unique‌ challenge: a growing coyote population. According to a recent report, the 49 square ‍miles of San Francisco are ‍home to over 870,000 people, tens ⁢of thousands of dogs, and approximately 100 coyotes. This has led⁢ to an increase in⁢ coyote sightings⁣ and conflicts, particularly when ‌pet ⁢dogs are ⁣present.

One such incident occurred on June 21, when Anna‌ Contreras received a call from ⁢a⁣ neighbor about a coyote running along Agnon Avenue with a puppy in its mouth.⁤ Anna⁢ rushed to the window, but the coyote was gone. She ⁤later checked the video captured by her home camera and was shocked by what ⁤she saw.

The video⁣ showed the⁣ puppy struggling‍ to break free from the coyote’s mouth. “The coyote threw it out, and the ​puppy fell ⁣on its back, barking⁤ and growling at the ‌coyote. Then,‌ it rolled ⁢over ⁢and stood up, desperately running ⁣for its life, while the coyote chased it relentlessly,” ⁤Anna described.

Bernal Heights has been identified as the epicenter of‍ coyote activity, with 23 reports of coyote sightings and ‌encounters between June and⁢ August. Twin Peaks and Potrero Hill followed closely, with 21 and 18‍ reports, respectively.

Tamara Aparton, a spokeswoman for the San‍ Francisco ‌Recreation and Parks Department, noted ⁢that ‌the ⁢increase in coyote activity in‍ parks during ‍the spring and summer is⁤ normal, as ⁢coyotes are ‌protecting ⁣their pups.⁢ However, the high⁢ number of coyotes in St. Mary’s⁢ Park led to the closure of two baseball fields ​on‍ June 26, citing “coyote breeding season.” The fields are expected to reopen in mid-September.

San Francisco parks have never restricted the use‌ of playgrounds due to coyote activity before. “Coyote Alerts” have been posted throughout ⁣the park to​ warn citizens that coyotes may exhibit den protection behavior and become more aggressive ⁢toward dogs.

Anna, a concerned dog owner, takes precautions when walking her dogs. “They’re⁤ everywhere,” she said, ⁢noting⁢ that she ⁤keeps her ​dogs on leashes and wears ‌special vests⁢ with spikes to make it harder for coyotes to bite them.

Recent incidents have also raised concerns about the safety of coyotes and ​children. In⁢ July, a coyote mauled ⁢a 5-year-old girl ‌at the‍ San⁢ Francisco ⁤Botanical Garden. In response, USDA trappers shot and killed three coyotes in the park, and officials from the California​ Department ​of Fish and Wildlife confirmed through DNA testing that one of them was the coyote that bit the girl.