Warning of coyote den posted for Phil’s, KGB trails

The Deschutes National Forest and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed Wednesday they have posted a warning about a den of coyotes for people recreating near the Phil’s and KGB trails west of Bend.

Bend-Fort Rock District Ranger Kevin Larkin told NewsChannel 21 they received calls from people whose dogs had some interaction with the coyotes.

Larkin said the coyotes didn’t attack any of the dogs, but he wanted to warn people if they have dogs to put them on a leash or to choose another area to recreate for the time being.

The signs warn that “there may be an active coyote den with pups along this section of KGB or Phil’s Trail. There have been numerous encounters between the coyotes and dogs off-leash. Use this trail with caution, especially with dogs.”

Andy Heller, who has been camping in the area, said he heard a pack of coyotes while camping a couple of days ago.

“They get louder some nights than others,” Heller said. “There’s been nights, they’ve been right in the camping area with me, kind of walking around the truck a little bit. My dogs freaks out, but I just wait until they leave, because it’s not a good idea to mess with them.”.

Larkin said people with dogs should keep them on a leash if they want to hike Phil’s Trail.

“The biggest thing we asks folks to do is if they want to take their dogs on a walk out on the national forest is probably go to a different area,” he said. “We have some known wildlife interactions here and the wildlife is behaving a little more aggressively.”

Visit this ODFW site for more tips and information: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/living_with/coyotes.asp