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26 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | APRIL 2025 Observing wild animals is one of the many benets of living in or near a wildlife habitat. Coyote encounters can be expected when walking on our scenic trails. e experience can become unpleasant or even dangerous when well-meaning people feed wild animals. When fed by people, coyotes can become unnaturally bold, and the result is conict between coyotes and people. LIVING WITH COYOTES: Coyotes are smart, adaptable canines that have learned to survive, and oen thrive, in urban and residential areas. Coyotes play an important role in the ecosystem, helping to keep rodent populations under control. ey are fearful of humans by nature. However, if coyotes are given access to human food and garbage, their behavior changes. ey lose caution and fear. ey may begin to harass domestic pets and might even threaten human safety. e California Department of Fish and Wildlife has provided the following guidelines for homeowners: • Use wildlife-resistant containers. Always keep trash, recycling, and compost in secure bins. Regularly clean garbage and recycling bins to minimize attracting unwanted wildlife. Remove unsecured trash, human or pet food, and strongly- scented items (e.g., sunscreen) from your yard. • Use simple, eective exclusion methods. Installing motion- activated lights is one deterrent that may be used. • Never feed or attempt to tame coyotes. e result may be deadly conicts with pets or serious injuries to small children. • Do not leave small children or pets outside unattended. • Trim ground-level shrubbery to reduce hiding places. • Be aware that coyotes are more active in the spring, when feeding and protecting their young. • USE NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT. If coyotes begin frequenting your neighborhood, let them know they are not welcome. Make loud noises, throw rocks in their direction, or spray them with a garden hose. For everyone's safety, it is essential that coyotes retain their natural wariness of humans. Prevention is Key: Coyote encounters resulting in human injury can and do occur in California. Coyotes, like most animals, can be unpredictable. Most coyote attacks occur in relation to a food source or something that attracts the coyote close to people or pets. A coyote that is conditioned or used to its environment may become bold and act aggressively towards people. Prevention is the key! • If you encounter a coyote … and it sees you: Keep a safe distance. Clap hands, make noise (e.g., whistle, noisemaker), and allow it to move away on its own. • If you encounter a coyote … and it approaches you: Make yourself look bigger by liing and waving your arms. Make noise by yelling, using noisemakers, or whistles. If small children or pets are present, keep them close to you. • If you encounter a coyote … and it attempts to attack a person or pet: Get to a safe location. If a person is bitten or scratched by a coyote, call 911 and seek medical attention. AS AN ADDED SAFETY REMINDER … Unsafe driving is a common concern and theme brought up by residents. Here are a few reminders to help keep our community safe. • 25 miles per hour is the maximum speed limit on roadways within our residential districts. • 30 miles per hour is the maximum speed limit on Four Seasons Circle. • 15 miles per hour is the maximum speed limit in alleyways. Remember, parking in alleyways is prohibited. We need to maintain access for emergency response vehicles. • Stop at all designated STOP signs. • Yield to vehicles that have entered a roundabout. When entering a roundabout, only drive in a counterclockwise direction! • No Distracted Driving! Put away your cell phones and other electronic devices while driving. • Yield to pedestrians. It is important to follow prudent driving practices. Although our streets are not marked with center lines, please avoid driving down the center of our roadways, staying on the right side of the street. For our pedestrians, while walking, be mindful of vehicle trac on the streets and stay on the sidewalks whenever possible. If you need to walk in the street, always walk facing the opposing trac, and if you are in a group, walk single le. Remember, "If you see something, say something." Join us for next month's Community Awareness meeting on Wednesday, April 9, at 10 am in e Lodge Ballroom. Andrea Merrill, Vector Control Technician with Riverside County, will present us with ways to help mitigate mosquito infestation in our community this summer. ank you to our Block Captains and Community Awareness Committee members for all they do to help keep our community safe. ~ Frank Hilberg, hilberg frank@gmail.com Community Awareness

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