Mission Viejo: Update #2 On Coyote-Human Encounter And Reopening Of Trail At Jeronimo Open Space

Press release from the City of Mission Viejo:

July 29, 2020

Mission Viejo Animal Services (MVAS) responded to two coyote-biting incidents on July 25 and reported the incident to California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) as is part of wildlife management efforts. MVAS worked in coordination with CDFW in closing the trail and notifying residents of the closure.

CDFW initiated an animal attack investigation, including an effort to identify and remove the offending coyote. The first part of the investigation involved isolating DNA from the offending coyote from bite wounds in both victims’ skin. The second part of the investigation involved an effort to remove the offending coyote, which took place over the last two days. On July 28, CDFW’s Wildlife Forensics Lab in Sacramento conclusively demonstrated that a coyote taken during the investigation was the coyote responsible for both attacks. CDFW has authority over wildlife within in the state of California and handles these types of cases. https://wildlife.ca.gov/Keep-Me-Wild/Coyote.

The coyote was confirmed to be negative for rabies by OC Animal Care, the agency that provides testing and coordination surrounding rabies concerns.

The trail at the Jeronimo Open Space between Pavion and Silleros has reopened, and Mission Viejo Animal Services is reminding everyone that California is natural coyote habitat, and we must know how to safely and peacefully coexist with wildlife. Most interactions are passive in nature and help promote the public’s appreciation for the wild animals that live around us.

For information on living coyote wise, visit cmvas.org.

This press release was produced by the City of Mission Viejo. The views expressed here are the author’s own.