Maria Hernandez
Jul 20, 2026, 3:00 PM
Quick tip for anyone walking the Jeffrey Open Space Trail in Woodbridge — we've shifted our morning walks with Pepper (our little terrier mix) to a bit later, closer to 7:30 instead of first light. The stretch near the Alton crossing seems to be where a coyote likes to trot through around dawn, and just giving it that extra half hour has meant we haven't crossed paths at all this past week. Keeping her on a short six-foot leash instead of the retractable made a bigger difference than I expected too — feels like we can share the trail as long as we're not out during their quiet hours. Curious whether the timing lines up for folks on the other end near Portola.
Nathan Ortiz
Jul 20, 2026, 3:00 PM
Later start is smart, we've been doing the same with the kids' bikes. What I still can't figure out is what to actually do if one is just standing on the path and won't move — is a short leash enough or should I be carrying something? That's the part that keeps me tense.
Omar Delacruz
Jul 20, 2026, 3:00 PM
Adjusting your whole morning around when a coyote feels like using the trail is exactly the problem, though. We shouldn't have to schedule around them near an open space that borders a neighborhood full of dogs and little kids, and I've never once seen the yelling-and-arm-waving thing actually make one leave.
Feng Adeyemi
Jul 20, 2026, 3:00 PM
Love this, Maria — the six-foot leash detail is the kind of small change that lets everyone keep enjoying that trail. Dawn and dusk are just their busy hours, same as ours, and working around them beats the alternatives every time.
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