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For All You Hikers Out There:
In response to a series of encounters between an aggressive coyote and dogs, Palo Alto is temporarily prohibiting dogs from visiting some trails on the western side of Pearson-Arastradero Preserve.
“The coyote would approach people with dogs, bark and howl,” said Lester Hodgins, open space division supervising ranger. In one case, a coyote “nipped at” a dog, he said, adding that there have been no full-blown attacks.
The harassed dogs have ranged in size from a small collie to a 90-pound Labrador, Hodgins said.
“In some cases, the owners just yelled,” he said. “In one case, they had to throw a rock.”
There haven’t been any reports of coyotes approaching hikers without dogs.
Following the latest encounter on Sept. 1, the city banned dogs from the Juan Bautista de Anza Trail at the preserve’s west entrance on Arastradero Road to the Meadowlark Trail, as well as from the Woodland Star, Ohlone and Bay Laurel trails. The preserve, city-owned open space, is off Arastradero Road just north of Page Mill.
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By Jesse Dungan
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