Summer is upon us and it’s not uncommon for many of us to want to take evening strolls or early morning walks with our dogs to avoid the heat of the day.
The East Bay, especially Livermore, offers so many beautiful hiking trails right in our own backyard! Between the warm summer breezes and beautiful views, it’s only natural to want to explore our area. When we explore with our best dog pal, the adventure is even better!
But let’s remember that we are sharing this beautiful area with Mother Nature, and it’s important to protect ourselves and our dogs from coyotes.
Coyotes are native to California and sitings of these animals are becoming more common especially on hiking trails where coyotes can be found hunting for food and protecting their dens.
Most of the time, coyotes will run when they come in contact with a human, but in areas where coyotes are becoming accustomed to humans, it’s important to take precautions to protect yourself and your dog when out and about.
Coyote Safety Precautions
The East Bay Regional Park District offers these coyote safety precaution tips:
- Avoid hiking alone. In the case of emergency, you will have someone there to help you.
- Be aware of surroundings and keep all senses on high alert.
- Keep children within arm’s reach and dogs on leash.
- Stay on trails and paths.
- Never feed wildlife.
What To Do If You See a Coyote
It’s not uncommon for anyone enjoying Livermore trails to see a coyote. In the event you do, take the following measures:
- Do not approach or engage with the coyote.
- Maintain your distance.
- Watch from afar and keep an eye on the coyote’s location and actions.
- Remain calm.
- Walk quickly, but do not run, from the area.
What to Do if a Coyote Approaches You
In most instances, a coyote will not approach you; if it does, keep yourself and your dog safe with the following tips:
- Make yourself as big a possible and use loud and aggressive tones to scare away the coyote.
- Wave your arms in constant motion.
- Stare down the coyote. Maintaining eye contact can make coyotes uncomfortable and timid.
- Slowly back away, but never turn your back on the coyote.
Sharing Our East Bay Hiking Trails with Wildlife
We are lucky to be able to share East Bay hiking trails with wildlife. Make sure to respect all wildlife while keeping yourself and your pet safe!
In the event of an emergency at a regional park, call 911 or the East Bay Regional Park District Public Safety line at 510- 881-1833 which is available 24/7.
For more information, visit Ebparks.org/safety.
