Edhat Reader
This week we have encountered coyotes daily between the paved hill at the end of SB Shores and the main butterfly grove in Ellwood.
These encounters have been during the day (11am-12:00pm) as well as at dusk (5:45-6:45pm). We have seen anything from a single coyote hunting in the field, to a pair in the main grove, as well as a pack of 5. All look healthy in size and have been weary of us humans once sensed.
While we have been hearing them more recently in the evening and they have been known to be closer to Sandpiper golf course, never in our 35+ years of living in the area and walking twice daily on the bluffs have we seen them so frequently and in this particular spot.
Keep an eye out for them, as well as your own furry friends, as we all continue to enjoy such a special place.
It’s hard not to wonder if there is a correlation between these sightings and the recent increase in human involvement on the bluffs (irrigation project, fire prevention, trail structure, etc). While we appreciate the efforts to better the monarch population, the rest of the ecosystem is trying to exist amongst the vehicles, humans, noise, and changes to their habitat.
They’re probably weary, but it’s good if they’re wary, too.