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| OHCC LIVING | MAY 2025 | 29 Pet Lovers Club Coyotes & More Coyotes With the arrival of pupping season, coyotes show different behaviors and are seen more often during daylight hours. This can pose special problems for people with small dogs. Recently, there seem to have been more coyotes than usual near the front gate and around the dog park area. In 2023, the Pet Lovers Club brought in a wildlife expert, open to all residents, to educate us on living in coyote territory and protecting ourselves and pets from coyote attacks. Here are points they emphasized: • Coyotes are part of our ecosystem. Culling them will cause them to breed to fill that space. • The only time authorities remove packs is when they pose a danger to people, pets or livestock. (One such pack was eliminated when an OHCC resident opened her sliding door to allow her dog to enter for his food bowl… followed by a coyote, who snatched the dog and ran. (Dog was rescued when it managed to slide under the fence at our pool.) • If a coyote approaches you and your dog, remain calm and control your dog. Keep your dog leashed. If it is a small dog, pick it up immediately so it doesn't look like prey. • Don't panic or run, as this can trigger a predatory instinct. • Coyotes are not interested in attacking you or large dogs. Stop and stand still if a coyote approaches you when walking your dog. Make yourself big. Be loud and assertive. Make a lot of noise, throw sticks or pebbles or tennis balls at him. • SLOWLY back away. Never run. Never turn your back on him. • Most coyotes are active during twilight hours around sunrise and sunset. Coyotes approaching you during the day have become accustomed to humans, and you need to act even more boldly than you do in the evening. Mark your calendar for our PLC Annual Brunch, Sat., Aug. 2. Details follow in June PLC article. Written by Ellen Kipple and Karen Hastings Village Vets Thanks to our dedicated Village Vets members, 2025 is off to a fantastic start! We've had outstanding presentations this year, including: • Honor Flight San Diego and the USS Midway Museum in January and March • Veteran long-term care options by Amada Health Care and Apreva Hospice in April I'm writing this a month in advance, but judging by the strong interest in April's event, we may need to bring Amada and Apreva back for another session! Upcoming Event: Hot Dog Extravaganza! Join us for hot dogs, drinks, chips, and other treats on May 22 from just before 12 noon to 2 pm on our beautiful new Lanai. Our special guest speaker will be Lieutenant Commander Tracy Owens, USN (Ret.), Programs Director for Support The Enlisted Project (STEP). STEP is one of San Diego's top military charities, dedicated to improving financial wellness and preventing food insecurity, homelessness, mental health crises, and suicide among enlisted service members, veterans, and their families. Learn more about their impactful work here: https://teamstepusa.org. Looking Ahead: Summer is coming, and so is our annual off- site gathering! Details are still being finalized, but we'll share more information soon. Stay Connected: I send out monthly email updates — if you're not receiving them, please let me know at bechillnavy@gmail.com. Press on! Written by Bob Bechill