La Mesa Park Coyote

A wily coyote, getting too close for comfort, has some folks on the Mesa a little nervous.

Locals say the wild canine is living near La Mesa park and is not afraid of many things, including humans.

Jason Gagne was able to shoot cellphone video of what appears to be a juvenile coyote living near the Meigs Road park, and sent it to NewsChannel 3.

“Hey, beat it!” Gagne yelled while taping the coyote.

Gagne and others claim the coyote isn’t just living in the woods nearby, it’s now living in the park and spooking it off is becoming more difficult to do.

“We do have people who think that they’re doing good by coming out and feeding this wildlife,” said Santos Escobar, parks manager for the City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department. “We just wish they would stop.”

And that’s created a potentially dangerous cycle for people and for the coyote. The city is monitoring the situation with the help of Animal Control, police and Fish and Wildlife, and posted signs urging people not to feed the coyote and to keep dogs on a leash and a close eye on small children.

“She’s not scared of dogs so she’d just walk up towards him and try to pet him,” said Anna Friedrich about her toddler daughter Olivia. “So, I’m watchful.”

The Derouled family said they’ve seen the coyote at the park off and on for the past six months.

“You don’t feel like he’s become aggressive in any way?” NewsChannel 3 asked. “No, not at all,” said Kelly Derouled. “Anytime he sees us, he goes back down into the ravine.”

The hope is, that animal will continue to stay in the ravine and wooded area.

Escobar confirmed if the coyote has to be trapped, it will be euthanized. Escobar is hoping El Nino brings the rains and a whole new food source for the animal. In the meantime, he said anyone who spots the coyote should call Santa Barbara Police Dispatch at 805-897-2410.