COYOTES--SCAVENGERS OF THE WEST
We came upon a fact that is hard to believe when you live close to a big city, especially, San Francisco, California. Also, many times, we feel that we do not have the problems that ranchers have, such as, bothersome wild animals.
But when we started to talk to several people, who only live about five or less miles from Foster City, California, that have homes close to Highway 280, we found that one of their big problems are coyotes--scavengers of the west.
We were told, several times, by people living in the area that they were advised not to let their small pets out at night because of coyotes. One person, who lives near Highway 280, said that one morning while he was backing his car out out of his garage, around five-thirty, he was startled by an animal darting past the back end of his car. Because it was early in the morning, he didn't pay any real attention to it, thinking it was only a dog.
But when he made a turn onto Highway 280, again he saw a brownish dog like animal running into the brush from the side of the road. This time it was carrying a small fury cat like animal in its mouth. As he passed the area where the animal dashed up the side of the road, he saw it standing on a small knoll looking down at the highway while he drove by, holding a small cat: the dog like animal turned out to be a coyote, which dashed into the brush as he passed by.
How true this story is, I don't know, but what we do know is that there are wild animals in the Crystal Springs area. The proof of this is the dead deer that we sometimes see on the side of the road.
Just remember, because Foster City and San Mateo, California, are still close to areas where wild animals roam, just be sure to watch your young children and pets when you are visiting these area, or when you go near these areas.
