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Drought Conditions Causing Coyotes And Other Predators To Seek Food And Water In Residential Areas

Wild animals are coming to residential neighborhoods.
Ventura County Animal Services
Wild animals are coming to residential neighborhoods.

As the drought worsens, there are warnings about an increase in wildlife roaming into residential neighborhoods on the South Coast.

Last week, a mountain lion attacked a 5-year-old boy near his home in Calabasas.

Randy Friedman, from Ventura County Animal Services, says that predatory wildlife are likely to be moving closer to homes to seek water and food during the on-going drought conditions.

"You have to understand that we are the guest - we have moved into their habitat that they've been in for a very long time," Friedman told KCLU.

"They've had to adjust where they're getting their food from," added Friedman.

He said that it's important to keep pets indoors during dawn and dusk, when predators are at their most active.

He also advised making sure there are no sources of food attracting other animals and suggested removing sources of water like bird baths.

Caroline joined KCLU in October 2020. She won LA Press Club's Audio Journalist of the Year Award for three consecutive years in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Since joining the station she's also won 11 Golden Mike Awards, 8 Los Angeles Press Club Journalism Awards, 4 National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards and three Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for Excellence in Writing, Diversity and Use of Sound.

She started her broadcasting career in the UK, in both radio and television for BBC News, 95.8 Capital FM and Sky News and was awarded by Prince Philip for her services to radio and journalism in 2007.

She has lived in California for twelve years and is both an American and British citizen - and a very proud mom to her daughter, Elsie.