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Coyotes Terrorize Saratoga Pet Owners

SARATOGA, Calif. (KCBS) - Pet owners in Saratoga say they have been traumatized by a number of deadly coyote attacks.

"Quite a tragedy," Grace Catanzaro described the killing of her 15 year-old tabby by coyotes last month. "Found out that coyotes had been roaming the neighborhood and attacking cats, and this was probably the fifth one that was attacked and we'd really like to see it stopped."

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Authorities confirm the incidents, saying there has been a recent increase in the number of coyote attacks.

"What we're seeing is just coyotes expanding their territory, adapting it to prey items as they go," explained Russ Parman with Santa Clara County Vector Control. "So if they move into an area and adapt to the presence of humans, which they do quite readily, then they'll start taking the urban pets as a prey item."

As a precaution, no cat or dog food should be left outside, and pets shouldn't be allowed to roam freely at night.

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