Coyotes

Just as if he had a watch, Bay Kitty, a 15-year-old gray-and-white tabby, would return to the Newport Beach home of Glenn and Paula Gelman at 7 a.m. and again 7 p.m. to receive his twice-daily insulin shots. The Gelmans knew their beloved diabetic cat was no more when he failed to return one evening a few weeks ago for his regular injection. “We were positive he was in trouble — we thought maybe he had fallen into a diabetic coma,” Glenn Gelman said. The next week, the Gelmans’ other cat, a 12-year-old big gray tom named Stripes, disappeared, leaving only a pile of fur across the street from their Sea View home.

COSTA MESA — Costa Mesa Animal Control increased its morning patrols this week after two pet cats were recently killed by coyotes apparently searching for food, police officials said. Many residents have reported seeing coyotes in the Mesa Del Mar neighborhoods near TeWinkle Park and the Irish street tract near Halecrest Park, said police Sgt. Phil Myers. "When they're hungry, they get a little more bold," Myers said. Two residents' cats were fatally attacked by coyotes in the last week when the felines were outside, he said.

Bryce Alderton Though slim, the Newport Coast boys fifth- and sixth-grade soccer team had plenty in reserve to defeat Adams, 4-3, in a gold division pool play contest of the Daily Pilot Cup Wednesday at the Farm Sports Complex. Newport Coast, which trailed, 3-1 with 21 minutes remaining, scored three goals in four minutes and held on against exhausted Adams players in both teams' first game of the tournament that concludes Sunday. "We had no subs, we had four guys out, but take nothing away from [Newport Coast]

Bryce Alderton At times it wasn't pretty, but the final score, 19-0, provided all the affirmation the Estancia High football team needed following its first shutout in nearly four years Saturday night at Newport Harbor High. The Eagles' defense bent, but never broke against nonleague foe Buena Park, which ran an option style similar to Estancia. The Eagles, fittingly, capped their scoring on defense, when seniors Ryan Sanford and Ricky Montgomery rushed into the backfield to sack Buena Park's third quarterback of the night near the goal line for a 14-yard loss and safety with 31 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Deepa Bharath NEWPORT BEACH -- Coyotes are a problem once again, this time in a neighborhood far away from their natural local habitat, the Back Bay. Residents on San Bernardino Avenue, a street that adjoins Cliff Park by Cliff Drive, say they are afraid their pets or even children are going to be victims of coyotes that have been spotted frequently in the park or on the street over the last few weeks. Residents no longer feel safe taking their children to the park, said Dorothy Vogel, who spoke on behalf of her neighbors on San Bernardino Avenue.

The Estancia High football team saw its struggles with the running game go from bad to worse Friday night as host Buena Park held the Eagles to minus-46 yards rushing in a 17-8 Coyotes victory. The Eagles did manage 82 passing yards, but managed its only touchdown when Matt Redding stripped the ball from a Buena Park running back and returned the fumble 20 yards for with 7:19 left in the game. "We didn't come to play football tonight," said Estancia Coach Brian Barnes, whose team fell to 0-3 and now has minus-24 yards rushing this season.

What's that you hear? A howling? If so, you're not alone. Others on the Eastside, in the Back Bay area and along Costa Mesa's bluffs have complained lately about the presence of coyotes. Part of the reason, officials say, is it's summer. Coyotes hunt now more often to feed their young. So the problem should be on the decline. But it isn't going to go away. As we build homes on land that coyotes and other animals once had to themselves, we will continue to come in contact with our wild neighbors.

The three ultimate survivors are cockroaches, crows and coyotes. Long after the rest of life has disappeared from this planet, those three will still be here. Anyone who has lived in the tropics knows about cockroaches. I don't mean the itty-bitty kind the authorities say frequented Sid Soffer's steak house. I mean the great big ones, the kind you could put on a horse and play Lone Ranger with. Crows I know all too well. They have taken over Shore Cliffs.

Deepa Bharath NEWPORT-MESA -- Gory tales of coyotes attacking pets are piling up in the community. Particularly hit by the problem are residents who live in the Back Bay area where coyotes that inhabit the ecological reserve find several points of entry leading into residential neighborhoods. This year, several residents say, has been particularly problematic and that the attacks have been more frequent and have happened in areas where coyotes were not all that common over the years.

When/where: Tonight, 7 at Buena Park High Key Eagles: Sr. TB Alex Abalos (184 yards rushing, one TD); Sr. QB Alek Kirshner (17 of 36, 145 yards, no interceptions); Sr. WR Matt Carlyle (eight catches, 76 yards, 1 TD); Jr. DE Omar Gutierrez (2.5 sacks). Breakdown: The Eagles (1-1) enter the nonleague clash with the Coyotes (1-1) on the positive of a 16-13 comeback win over Bolsa Grande ... Buena Park, which snapped a nine-game losing streak with a season-opening win over Bassett, has lost 10 of its last 11, including a 21-6 setback to Estancia last season ... Senior running back Jimmy Davis has reached at least 100 rushing yards in both games this season and his 216 yards represent 98% of the Coyotes’ ground yards this season.

A Dec. 1 article in the Daily Pilot (Re. "Guarding from rising sea could cost millions") by Mike Reicher was a timely wake-up call for the citizens of Newport Beach. It is extremely heartening to learn that the City Council has found a way around the climate-change skeptics and is addressing this issue head on, instead of kicking the can down the road. As a marine construction engineer with extensive worldwide experience of more than 40 years, I have a few observations to offer.

What's the rush? The Newport Beach Planning Commission has a quorum with six members. So one has to ask what the real reason was for the waiver of Policy A2, which outlines the process for appointments to boards and committees. At the Nov. 29 special council meeting, the City Council voted 4 to 3 to waive Council Policy A2, which relates to appointments, including unexpected vacancies. The vote by council members Mike Henn, Keith Curry, Ed Selich and Rush Hill to waive the policy shows disregard for consistent public process, and an established framework for policies to be changed in the public forum, by council.

An equestrian rescued a man and his dogs from a coyote Tuesday morning near the Back Bay. Brian Clarkson, 37, said he was jogging about 8 a.m. with his two Yorkie mixes on a trail near University Drive and Irvine Avenue when a man on a horse spotted a coyote running toward them. Clarkson said the coyote "seemed hungry and desperate. " The rider yelled at the coyote, which was only momentarily deterred, according to Clarkson. Clarkson added that the animal continued to follow him and his dogs, but stayed by some bushes across the street.

In rebuttal to the article posted about how Costa Mesa will trap coyotes ("Costa Mesa to trap coyotes," March 3): Rather than trapping the coyotes, why not respond to the public outcry that they treat their own pets responsibly and not allow them to roam at night? We should rejoice that there's still some wildlife left in the concrete jungle that we've created for ourselves. Pets are an artificial means of surrounding ourselves with the animals that we pretend to love. If we love these animals so much, why would they be left outside in the winter cold to become prey for the wildlife that is only responding in a natural way to hunt for food left so conveniently for their sustenance?

COSTA MESA — Animal Control is going to set up coyote traps along the city's trails and walkways as the animals continue to aggressively roam city neighborhoods and attack family pets. The city has hired Urban Wildlife Professionals to set up snares on the north and west sides of the cities, where most of the coyote sightings have been, police officials said. Traps will be in place March 7-11 and March 14-18. The snares are designed to not harm people or their domesticated pets, according to police.

COSTA MESA — Costa Mesa Animal Control increased its morning patrols this week after two pet cats were recently killed by coyotes apparently searching for food, police officials said. Many residents have reported seeing coyotes in the Mesa Del Mar neighborhoods near TeWinkle Park and the Irish street tract near Halecrest Park, said police Sgt. Phil Myers. "When they're hungry, they get a little more bold," Myers said. Two residents' cats were fatally attacked by coyotes in the last week when the felines were outside, he said.

It takes a lot to knock down a 220-pound former farmer. Bruce Roberts, a tough-talking Costa Mesa man who used to hunt and trap, and his Boston terrier, Bones, were ambushed Saturday by three coyotes. The man and his dog were taking their early-morning walk in West Newport near West Coast Highway when three coyotes stalked them from behind and pounced on Bones, toppling Roberts in the process, he said. While Bones survived the mauling by the coyotes, in which he required 16 stitches, the experience shook up Roberts — and he's not the only one. Residents in Big Canyon, a gated community on the other side of Newport, have also complained to city and state officials recently about seemingly more aggressive coyotes.

COSTA MESA — When at full strength, the Newport Coast Elementary fifth- and sixth-grade boys' soccer team believes it may pose a threat to eight-time division champion Rea. But, unfortunately for Coach Jill Kormos, the Daily Pilot Cup is not the only game in town for some key members of the pink-clad Newport Coast squad. The Coyotes were at full strength Tuesday, when they earned a 4-1 gold division victory over Eastbluff in the opening round of pool play at the Farm Sports Complex.

Have you ever happened to noticed all the lost cat and dog signs in the Costa Mesa communities of Mesa Verde and the Westside of Costa Mesa? Stop and think of how many parents, like me, who have lost animals... Who sympathetically rally up the kids to make lost pet signs,  post them around the neighborhood when we know, deep in our heart,  it probably was a coyote that got our animal.  If you are surprised by what I am telling you then simply ask around, talk to your fellow neighbors.

When/where: Tonight, 7 at Buena Park High Key Eagles: Sr. TB Alex Abalos (184 yards rushing, one TD); Sr. QB Alek Kirshner (17 of 36, 145 yards, no interceptions); Sr. WR Matt Carlyle (eight catches, 76 yards, 1 TD); Jr. DE Omar Gutierrez (2.5 sacks). Breakdown: The Eagles (1-1) enter the nonleague clash with the Coyotes (1-1) on the positive of a 16-13 comeback win over Bolsa Grande ... Buena Park, which snapped a nine-game losing streak with a season-opening win over Bassett, has lost 10 of its last 11, including a 21-6 setback to Estancia last season ... Senior running back Jimmy Davis has reached at least 100 rushing yards in both games this season and his 216 yards represent 98% of the Coyotes’ ground yards this season.