Coyote Yipps

Someone asked me how I knew that our mange cases picked up in 2024 and spread so quickly and only recently. About half the coyote population here in San Francisco has been affected. And I’m told by my rehabber contact, that it’s about this same percentage in other parts of the state of California. The reason I know that the phenomenon is new here, is because I’ve photographed almost all, if not all the coyotes in San Francisco since 2007. In 2015 I began posting a MAP of their territories, and mange was not an issue at that time. The malady just wasn’t here on any measurable scale until 2024, when over the course of the next two years it seemed to have spread everywhere. Again, I have my thousands of photos as a testament.

Mange has become an epidemic in San Francisco’s coyotes, approaching close to half of our population. CA Fish & Wildlife technically “owns” these animals in trust for the public, but isn’t outright helping them.

CDFW prohibits feeding/harassing wildlife, a law I support. But it allows no exceptions, even for treating mange. Coyotes with mange can be safely treated in the field by placing medication in food and monitoring until the targeted animal eats it. Even licensed rehabbers would be breaking the law here in California, though it is allowed in other states. Can CDFW please fix the policy gap so that these animals can be helped?

As a result, private individuals have stepped in to help, because it is the right thing to do. It is wrong to watch animals suffer and die when the remedy is simple. I support these people, though it would be far better if their efforts didn’t have to happen quietly.

Some claim the coyote population is “exploding.” I’ve been monitoring multiple territories and have not seen this. Some territories have split, and there are temporary interlopers, but there is no population boom.

Coyotes are highly social individuals who live in nuclear families which *own* their own exclusive territories. The population naturally increases during pupping season, then returns to the basic two breeding parents and a few yearlings who help raise the next litter. About 30 coyotes are killed by cars each year — cars are effectively their main urban predators — and they are dying from mange.

More sightings don’t mean more coyotes. Rather, people have become more aware and are looking for them. Social media amplifies the perception of sightings. Some coyotes are more active during the day because they’ve habituated to people and dogs. AND, mangy coyotes stand out: without fur, they can’t thermoregulate and THEY SEEK SUNLIGHT DURING THE DAY. **NOTICE HOW MANY SIGHTINGS INVOLVE MANGY ANIMALS.**

At the same time, stress seems to be involved when it comes to mange. “Mange is still an issue with Yellowstone wolves, during stressful times of year, and it’s entirely possible for them to naturally heal if it doesn’t overtake more than 40% of their body.” My rehabber friend continues, “We see it here with squirrels during the spring/summer when the stress of breeding/having babies/finding food taxes their immune system. They too can naturally heal.” Since mange didn’t become an issue until 2024 here in San Francisco, I’m wondering if the *stress* from population pressure that has reached its saturation point might be involved in the outbreak.

Another study suggested that we have mange outbreaks cyclically every 30 to 45 years. Is this true? Here is the source for that quote: “In North America, populations of red foxes, coyotes, and gray wolves appear to experience epizootics every thirty to forty-five years (Pence and Windberg, 1994 (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6599944/#bib147)).”

I was horrified to read this posting on NextDoor only two days ago, posted by Richard Drury on January 20th: “Dog poison at Stern Grove! Someone left a large box of raw meat at Stern Grove dog park — on the hill near Vale Street and Palos Place. My dog ate a bunch of the meat before we could reach him. We took him to the vet and found that the meat was laced with rat poison. The vet pumped his stomach and gave him medications. I think he will be okay. But beware.” Apparently pest companies have access to rat poison which has been banned from sales in stores here in San Francisco EXCEPT to these pest companies that use it profusely at institutions that hire them: old age home facilities, schools, apartment buildings, even the VA. The pest companies will tell you they are using milder forms of the poison so that other animals aren’t hurt. My rehabber contact says, “BS, poison is poison.”

Below is an explanatory poster from the National Park Service about mange. While individuals can’t buy rat poison in the city, pest control companies use it extensively in apartments, schools, nursing homes, and other facilities.