Presidio Trust Bans Dogs From Two Trails During Coyote Pupping Season

Along the wooded stretch between Mountain Lake and the Presidio Promenade, the ground is off-limits to dogs today, and will remain that way until early October. The Presidio Trust closed segments of two trails, the Park Trail and the Bay Area Ridge Trail, to dog walkers on March 23, citing the start of coyote pupping season, a time when coyote parents are especially active and protective of their den sites. The stated goal is to reduce conflicts between coyotes, dogs, and people.

The ban, which runs through early October, covers all dogs whether on-leash or off. The Park Trail closure extends from Mountain Lake to the Presidio Promenade near Cavalry Stables, while the Bay Area Ridge Trail is closed from the Rob Hill Campground to the Presidio Golf Course. Dogs are also prohibited from the public golf course during this period.

The restrictions come as the Presidio's resident alpha pair prepares to whelp this spring. Phoebe Parker-Shames, wildlife ecologist for the Presidio Trust, explained the timing: "They are part of our native ecosystem," she has noted of coyotes generally, and in television reporting she described the current situation in stark terms: "The coyotes are about to have or are just having babies right now, so we got small pups in dens in all across the Bay Area. Here in the Presidio, we have an alpha pair and they traditionally have a den around the golf course area."

Coyotes are members of the canine family and can be reactive to the presence of dogs. They may exhibit den-protective behaviors and guard a localized area from other canines regarded as outsiders attempting to kill the pups, and these protective behaviors are always focused on canines.

The Presidio Trust said it is not looking to fine dog owners; instead, it frames the closure as an opportunity for education. Parker-Shames has said that when she encounters someone with a dog in a closed area, she tries to take time to explain why they are being asked to stay out, noting that it ultimately falls on dog owners to be responsible for their animals.

Hikers without dogs are not affected. All 24 miles of trails in the Presidio remain open to people. Those with dogs are encouraged to use other park trails, and all park visitors are advised to keep dogs on short leashes and under control at all times.

The Trust also issued guidance to help keep coyotes from becoming habituated to humans. Visitors are asked to securely dispose of all trash and pack it out if receptacles are full, avoid leaving human or pet food outside, and report coyote sightings or concerning encounters to Trust wildlife ecologists at (415) 561-4270 or coyote@presidiotrust.gov.

The Presidio Trust will hold an all-ages community gathering to learn more about coyotes on April 12 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Crissy Field Center. Registration information is available through the Presidio Trust website at presidio.gov.