Quick one for anyone walking the trails around Serrano Creek right no…

Mariana Jung

Jul 1, 2026, 11:23 PM

The porch food thing drives me a little crazy too, honestly. I get worried on my own walks so I hear the anxiety underneath your post. On my street I skipped the HOA at first and just knocked on the two neighbors doing it, framed it as "I saw a coyote nearby and got nervous" rather than a rule. Both pulled the bowls in. Then I brought it to the board with those examples and it landed way better. For my dog I carry a shake can of coins and keep her leashed short and close when one's watching. Making myself big like you did seems to be the thing that actually works.

Kenji Davis

Jul 1, 2026, 11:37 PM

This is the right call, Isha. The fruit thing is real and nobody talks about it. We had a plum tree that basically ran a coyote buffet every August until we started raking the drops into the green bin. Activity along our side dropped off within a week or two.

Jada Kaur

Jul 2, 2026, 12:51 AM

Wait, do they actually eat the fruit? I thought they were just after cats and rabbits. Genuinely asking, not being difficult.

Meera Park

Jul 2, 2026, 2:06 AM

Jada, yeah, they're omnivores. Big part of their diet in the summer is fruit and bugs, especially when it's easy pickings on the ground. Loquats, figs, grapes, whatever's dropping. Removing that is honestly one of the most effective things you can do and it doesn't hurt anybody.

Megan Yoon

Jul 2, 2026, 3:19 AM

Good to know about the fruit. We're over near the Serrano Creek trail too and it's been busier the last couple weeks. I'll clear the loquat drops but honestly the sightings still make me nervous with a small dog. Doing the fruit thing doesn't mean I'm not still watching my back at dusk.

Taro Garcia

Jul 2, 2026, 4:30 AM

tried this after reading, spent 20 min picking up figs in the dark like a raccoon. jury's still out but at least the ants are gone lol

Paola Patel

Jul 2, 2026, 5:43 AM

I clear my fruit and my trash is locked and I STILL had one in the driveway at 9pm two nights ago, just standing there looking at me. So while I appreciate the tip, let's not pretend picking up loquats is going to fix this. Some of these need to actually be removed. There are kids in this neighborhood.

Claire Nelson

Jul 2, 2026, 6:58 AM

Paola I get the driveway thing being scary, that would rattle me too. But I don't think Isha's saying it's a magic fix, just that it helps. I'd rather do the easy stuff first before jumping to removal. Did you report the driveway one on Coyote Cacher? Curious if others near you are seeing the same.

Yuki Miller

Jul 2, 2026, 8:10 AM

Removal doesn't work the way people think, Paola. You take a couple out and the pack just breeds back to fill the space, it's well documented. Meanwhile the fruit and the trash are still sitting there attracting the next ones. Fix the food source and you actually change something. They aren't monsters standing in your driveway, they're hungry animals following easy calories, which is exactly Isha's whole point.

Paola Patel

Jul 2, 2026, 9:24 AM

Yuki, respectfully, telling a mom that the animal in her driveway is just hungry and misunderstood is not comforting. I've lived in Lake Forest 18 years and it was never like this. But fine, I'll clear the fruit AND keep reporting them. Both.

Nathan Ortiz

Jul 2, 2026, 10:43 AM

For what it's worth the Access Irvine app and Coyote Cacher both let you log sightings and it does help the city see hotspots. Whatever side you land on, reporting is the one thing everybody can agree on. Takes 30 seconds.

Kenji Davis

Jul 2, 2026, 11:56 AM

One thing to add to Isha's list, watch the automatic sprinklers. Ours run at 4am and the standing water plus the fruit was a combo. Moved the timer to daytime and that helped too. Small stuff adds up.

Juan Sato

Jul 2, 2026, 1:08 PM

You can move your sprinklers and rake your figs all day, I've got a cat that doesn't come home some nights and I've made my peace with what that probably means. Keep your pets in, that's the only tip that actually matters. Everything else is around the edges.

Andre Khan

Jul 2, 2026, 2:18 PM

Juan that's rough, sorry about your cat, genuinely. But it's not either/or. Keeping pets in AND cutting the food sources both help, one protects your animal and the other makes the whole area less attractive over time. Isha's not wrong that the easy calories are what pulls them off the creek.

Megan Yoon

Jul 2, 2026, 3:35 PM

Update since I posted earlier, cleared the loquat and fig drops over the weekend and it's been quieter along our fence line. Not saying it's the whole answer but I'll take quieter. Thanks Isha.