"Browns Valley resident Cynthia Rinehart was walking her dogs one night last weekend in Sunrise Meadows Park when she realized something was amiss — her border collie dug in his heels and wouldn’t budge. She looked up to see two coyotes scamper away, the first time she’s seen coyotes in more than 20 years of living in west Napa. “It was kind of disbelief, like coyotes — huh?,” Rinehart said. “We don’t have coyotes here.” A number of her neighbors have reported seeing the wild animals in the last couple of weeks, setting off a chain of postings on the subject at an online neighborhood news forum, Nextdoor Browns Valley, Rinehart said. “Browns Valley neighbors are talking,” Rinehart said. The Napa County Sheriff’s Animal Control Division has received several reports of coyotes in the Browns Valley neighborhood in the last month, said Sgt. Craig Nickles. Nickles said his officers will check the area, but unless there’s a report of an attack or a diseased coyote, animal control is inclined to let the critters be. Researchers at UC Davis, track reports of coyote attacks on humans, but have never heard of one occurring in Napa County, said Robert Timm, director of the university’s Hopland Research & Extension Center. Nickles said coyote sightings are common in the more rural areas of Napa County, especially this time of year when coyotes are breeding and roaming around to look for mates. “It’s a pretty natural occurrence for this time of year,” Nickles said. “Obviously, in the county we encounter them all the time. In the city they’re a little more surprising.”" - Anne Bouey from Bookmarklet

We'll have to be alert to spot them; it's our neighborhood! - Anne Bouey

be careful, anne! - imabonehead

I think Cricket can take them. - Jessie