Personally, I don't enjoy being startled out of a deep, 2 a.m. sleep by the sound of coyotes shredding a cat. The cat sets up quite a fuss, until it finally gives up the ghost, at which point the coyotes all set up a brag. This scenario has played out several times on the hillside behind my home over the years, most recently just a few weeks ago. It kind of makes it hard to go back to sleep.

Fortunately, there are few, if any, surviving cats in my neighborhood, which butts up against the wild. It's only when someone new moves in, who doesn't know that you don't let your cat outside - especially at night -that the coyotes find an easy feast.

Cats get outside the yard, that is a given. However, coyotes sometimes get into the yard. And, in my neighborhood, anyone who has a small dog either brings it inside at night or loses a lot of sleep. In fact, my last HOA newsletter mentioned a coyote had taken a puppy from a yard. (Some say a six foot wall is no obstacle for a hungry coyote.)

Aside from pet murder, coyotes, I think, enjoy keeping you up at night. A couple weeks ago, again at 2 a.m., two of them decided to do karaoke on the hill for about a half hour. I started wishing for a hand grenade.

Yeah it's nature, yeah we're encroaching on the animals' habitat. I get it. But we call the cops for a loud party don't we? Where are the coyote cops? I think these animals fall under "gang" laws and the crimes they do, being inter-species, could be classified as hate crimes. Well that's how I feel at 2 a.m., anyway.

Fortunately, those in the know have a more realistic outlook toward coyotes. Sherlan Neblett, the deputy commissioner/sealer with the County of Los Angeles Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures, feels that coyotes are, "intelligent, interesting animals," and that when people are educated about them, and take proper precautions, we can coexist with them.

The ACWM is the entity that deals with coyote issues in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, and in some cities that contract with the agency. "I'm in the pest management division," Neblett said (though she doesn't feel coyotes are "pests.") "I have a field staff that deals with coyote issues."

If you live in an unincorporated area of the county and have a serious coyote problem, you can call the ACWM. Same if you live in a contract city. If you live in a city that doesn't contract with the ACWM, you can still get information from them. "We will offer advice and suggestions," Neblett said.

FYI: Representatives of the city of Santa Clarita indicated folks inside the city limits would call the ACWM. However, Neblett said there was no official contract with the city. If the need arises, you might call ACWM to find out what your next step is.)

So what constitutes a "serious coyote problem"? Neblett said that depends on many factors, but a coyote that is merely annoying is not a serious problem - one that acts aggressive is.

She said the coyote's natural behavior is to avoid people and not threaten them. However, "If you really feel threatened by a coyote or one is attacking a child or something, call the local law enforcement."

Neblett said, "Coyotes will always be there. They have survived well in the urban environment. People need to be educated on how to reduce coyote/human interactions."

Our accompanying sidebar, Coping with the Urban Coyote, offers information about coyotes and tips on how to deal with them. Neblett added her own emphasis for some of them.

"Do not feed coyotes," she said. (It is illegal, by the way.) She explained that, in years past, coyotes were much more afraid of humans, but now they associate them with food. "Don't leave food sources out, like pet food, and pick up dropped fruit regularly," she said.

Neblett offered that feeding other wildlife that might be prey for coyotes is also a bad idea. That includes feeding feral cats.

Sources of water, such as puddles left after landscape watering, also attract coyotes.

"Keep pets in at night," and clear away brush around your home," she added. The brush provides hiding places for coyotes and for their natural prey.

A good, tall fence can keep coyotes out of your yard, and Neblett said there are several types of fences that make it harder for coyotes to get over them, such as those with rollers on top. (She suggested looking online if you are interested in these.)

While taking proper precautions will reduce coyote interactions, Neblett reminded that, "Coyotes are a natural part of our environment. Even if we took them all out, they would come back into that niche. People need to coexist with them as much as possible."

Well, OK, but I'd at least like to set up a coyote curfew.

You can reach the ACWM at (626) 575-5462 (they are closed nights, Fridays, weekends and holidays). For more information visit the Web site, www.acwm.lacounty.gov. Put your cursor over "Urban Meets Wild" and then click on "Coyote."

For more information on coyotes and other wildlife in Los Angeles County, visit the L.A. County Animal Care and Control Web site, http://animalcare.lacounty.gov/.

Visit Keep Me Wild, www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/ for more information on wild animals.

Report any coyote incident or coyote damage to University of California - Coyote Bytes, www.coyotebytes.org/.