Acme, you have no worries

Wile E. Coyote has nothing on the critter spooking dogs in Palo Alto, Calif.

Here's an article by Jesse Dungan of the Palo Alto Daily News via the San Jose Mercury News.

In response to a series of encounters between an aggressive coyote and dogs, Palo Alto is temporarily prohibiting dogs from visiting some trails on the western side of Pearson-Arastradero Preserve.

"The coyote would approach people with dogs, bark and howl," said Lester Hodgins, open space division supervising ranger. In one case, a coyote "nipped at" a dog, he said, adding that there have been no full-blown attacks.

There apparently have been no attacks by coyotes of hikers sans pooches.

People who know say the coyote encounters are likely to involve the same coyote. How they know, who knows.

Hodgins said it has been four or five years since reports of aggressive coyotes prompted the city to close trails to dogs. The open space division is waiting to hear from a state Department of Fish and Game biologist before reopening the trails.

Careful, people, careful.