From the Valley to Leimert Park and Hancock Park, people in communities across Southern California have been spotting coyotes in their neighborhoods.

Not nestled in the mountains, but in urban areas where many young children and house pets live.   

“We actually shouldn’t be surprised that coyotes are showing up in what we consider to be non-traditional locations like the middle of a city,” said Tim Daly, California Department Fish and Wildlife public information officer.  

Daly says that’s in part because coyotes are looking for food and resources not being found in their environments. And, what we are doing might be inviting to them.   

“It’s almost always unintentional. We might forget that we left the pet food out at night. We might not have remembered to clean our barbecue at the end of a long meal,” Daly added. “And, there’s those odors and bits of food still on a barbecue. We may be forgetting to trim under our backyard brush because we think, oh, it looks so lush and fully grown but that’s also a place where wildlife can hide. It’s a shelter.”

Reports about coyotes to their office are tracked.  

Total coyote interactions 2017-2024

Coyote sightings, depredation, possible human conflict, and nuisance complaints.

Our analysis of data obtained by the NBC4 I-Team shows calls to the department about coyotes in Los Angeles County have increased in all categories -from sightings to nuisance- compared to last year.   

Looking back to 2017, most reports about coyote run-ins with pets or livestock or what’s called “depredation” in LA County happened in zip code 91745 — the Hacienda Heights neighborhood.  

Most nuisance reports, which could be anything from tipping trash cans or making messes, were most reported in the 91711 area near Claremont.   

And, most of the calls about potential human conflict came from zip code 90027, the Griffith Park neighborhood, followed closely by 91364, the community of Woodland Hills.    

“We look at those reports every day, and then we will respond accordingly if we feel there’s a potential public safety issue going on, we will work with the people who made that report to make sure A, they’re okay, and B, they’re doing everything they can to eliminate what’s attracting them to their yard,” Daly said.   

Daly believes part of the rise in report could coincide with more people at home. 

“Also, more of us have cameras on our homes and in our backyards than ever. And so, we’re getting a lot more sightings reported to us that way as well,” he added   

He says sighting numbers might be a bit skewed because multiple reports might come in about the same animal.  

Again, the department tells the NBC4 I-Team, we could be the ones creating space for coyotes and other wildlife to feel invited, barbeques not being cleaned up, fallen fruit in your yard, bird feeders with overflow of seed are attractive to coyotes.   

The department wants to hear from you if you come across a coyote, especially if you feel at risk, so they can better access what is happening.    

They have a way to do that right on the front page of their website. There is also a link that explains how to deal with not just coyote but any wildlife you might come across in your home.    

Shohei Ohtani singled in the go-ahead run before stealing his 56th base of the season in the sixth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-3 on Wednesday night to move within a victory of clinching the NL West.

The Dodgers increased their lead over the second-place Padres to three games with four to play and reduced their magic number to two. Los Angeles needs a win in Thursday’s series finale to earn its 11th division title in 12 years. The Dodgers have already clinched a postseason berth.

The Padres’ five-game winning streak ended a night after they celebrated making the postseason with a game-ending triple play on their biggest rival’s field.

Ohtani’s two-strike, two-out single to center off Adrián Morejón scored Will Smith, who drew a leadoff walk, and made it 4-3. Ohtani stole second, but Mookie Betts followed with a popup to end the inning. Betts popped up to every infield position.

Shohei Ohtani with another go-ahead hit!

In other news, grass is green. pic.twitter.com/tToHfaYY1M

— MLB (@MLB) September 26, 2024

With two outs in the ninth, Michael Kopech walked Jake Cronenworth to put the tying run aboard. Brandon Lockridge ran for Cronenworth and stole second. Donovan Solano struck out swinging on a 101 mph fastball from Kopech to end the game and keep fans on their feet cheering. Kopech earned his 15th save.

Alex Vesia (5-4) got the win with one hitless inning of relief.

Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, retiring Fernando Tatis Jr. on a flyout and getting Jurickson Profar and Manny Machado on called third strikes.

A 448-foot shot from Tatis — longest by a Padres player this season — tied the game at 3-3 with two outs in the fifth. It was his seventh homer in his last 13 games.

114.4 MPH, 448 feet

Fernando Tatis Jr. got every stitch of this baseball 😯 pic.twitter.com/FptwEBFKFW

— MLB (@MLB) September 26, 2024

The Dodgers scored the tying and go-ahead runs with two outs in the fourth. Gavin Lux had an RBI single and Ohtani’s double hit the Padres bullpen gate in right as the sellout crowd of 52,310 chanted “MVP! MVP!”

Shohei Ohtani rockets a 116.8 MPH double off the wall to give the @Dodgers the lead! pic.twitter.com/8KpCZqNe9F

— MLB (@MLB) September 26, 2024

Padres reliever Jeremiah Estrada (6-3) took the loss.

Xander Bogaerts had an RBI single and Cronenworth followed with an RBI groundout to second for a 2-1 lead in the second.

Teoscar Hernández’s two-strike, two-out RBI single scored Ohtani, who walked and took second on Padres starter Dylan Cease’s wild pitch in the first.

Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty gave up three runs and four hits in five innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked three.

Cease allowed three runs and five hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked three.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: SS Miguel Rojas left the game with left groin tightness.

UP NEXT

Padres: RHP Joe Musgrove (6-5, 3.95 ERA) has thrown six scoreless innings in three of his four outings this month.

Dodgers: RHP Walker Buehler (1-6, 5.63) is still looking for his second win in his final start of the regular season.

Illegal dumping is becoming a problem for one city in the Inland Empire and it could cost residents a lot of money.

Officials with the City of Chino are encouraging the public to use its services for bulky item removals instead of dumping them. Leaving large, unwanted items out could cost violators a penalty that begins at $250.

“We inform our residents about the resources, which include bulky item pickup three times a year,” said Chris Corban, Deputy Director of Development Services in the city. “Special days to drop of items and twice for hazardous waste like motor oil and paint, batteries, electronics.”

In an effort to help residents combat illegal dumping, the city also offers events every second and fourth Saturday of the month to help community members dispose of large items.

Corban said disposing of unwanted items the proper way keeps the public safe.

“Some of the stuff we see, we don’t know what it is,” he said. “It has chemicals or oils and you don’t know what it is and it’s a challenge because it has to be disposed of properly.”

The city is encouraging its residents to report illegal dumping via the MyChino app, the city’s website of by calling police.

For more information on bulky item collections in Chino, click here.