"The coyote perched atop the cinder-block wall 25 feet across the lawn from Candy Julian's screen door, dangling its paws and eyeing her family's two miniature schnauzers. ...

Her family chased off the coyote. But some neighbors haven't been so lucky, losing cats and small dogs and fearing for their children's safety.

Julian's neighborhood is not far from Chino Hills State Park, which borders Yorba Linda on the north and east and which is the usual home of wildlife. But the burned hills from last year's massive Freeway Complex fire and an extended drought have driven prey and predators into much closer contact with humans."


Tony Barboza reports for the Los Angeles Times September 9, 2009. [2]