Comments of the Week

Montrose Patch is taking a look at this week's most commented article. Montrose and La Crescenta residents voiced their concerns with after a recent sighting inside a local's home.

Avery Dewe: Multiple sightings in Upper Briggs Terrace. Lost one cat, and they are now actively hunting in teams. Been here about 17 years, and have never seen it this bad.

Rachel: I live in La Crescenta, and had a coyote with mange who regularly came to my house for the food we leave for stray cats. I rented a humane coyote trap, then called Valley Wildlife Care. They came and got her, and treated her for her mange and other ailments and later released her in the same area. I wish they'd sent her further in the hills for her OWN safety, but they said she was more likely to survive in familiar territory. Anyway..I saw her one last time, and she looked healthy, and had gained much-needed weight, and I felt very good about saving "Luna". I hope she will remain wild and free..and stay away from houses.

Coyotes with mange cannot hunt, so when she was sick, she was forced to scavenge for food. She was not a danger to anyone, or to pets during that time.

And how did she get mange? Rodent poisons. People leave it to kill rats/mice, but any other animal can eat it. Coyotes..your pets..it's very dangerous stuff and ruins their immune systems which can cause sickness and of course, death. A terrible, slow death.

Please don't use poisons! Mangy coyotes are the ones who are way more likely to come near your house looking for food. And..keep your dang pets inside, people! There should be NO outdoor cats/dogs. Especially small ones.

Bottom line: If your pet/child is not outside alone, they can't be attacked, mkay? We have bears and mountain lions too, so use some sense.

Off my soapbox now.

Chuck Weiss: Rachel it's apparent that you have a heart of gold, but I wish you wouldn't encourage wild animals to approach your house by leaving out food for the stray cats. The problem of coyotes only escalates when they no longer fear humans and know where to can get a "free lunch."

Dana Stangel follows Montrose Patch on Facebook and said: The coyote problem is the people not taking appropriate precautions. it also comes from feeding coyote prey.... we need to be aware that we have taken their habitat and we need to practice respect.