Jian Vargas
Jul 1, 2026, 11:05 PM
Still shaking a little so bear with me. I walk the Aliso Creek Trail behind the Town Center most mornings, and today near the wooden bridge by Grand Ave there were two of them just standing on the path, not moving, watching me the whole time I backed away. I clapped, yelled, waved my arms — the whole routine everyone says to do — and one of them barely flinched. Just kept staring. I know people are going to tell me they were here first and to give them space, and I hear that, I do. But this is a paved public trail with kids and strollers and leashed dogs, and an animal that won't break off when a grown adult is shouting at it is not one I feel safe walking past. That's not normal boldness, that's something that's stopped being afraid of us. I reported it on Coyote Cacher but honestly I don't know that anything comes of those. I'd rather the city thin out the brush along that stretch or do something before it's a person and not a report. Please just be careful down there, especially early.
Liza Lee
Jul 1, 2026, 11:05 PM
Jian, that pacing thing genuinely scares me too — the ten-feet-then-following is the part that keeps me off certain trails before full daylight. I don't think you're overreacting. I'd second wanting the city to be straight with us about when and how they decide to trap, because "coexist" without specifics doesn't help me stand between my kids and anything. One thing that's helped me feel less helpless: carrying a cheap pop-open umbrella walking the dog — the sudden size change breaks the follow better than yelling did for me. Not a plan for the whole neighborhood, I know, but something while we push for real answers.
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