'For a long time, people thought that medium sized carnivores couldn't make it in urban environments,' says NPS wildlife biologist Justin Brown. Researchers with the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area have been studying coyotes for quite some time, but to really understand how animals survive and thrive in urban landscapes like Los Angeles, they've decided to enlist the help of citizen scientists like Boag. San Antonio College, her scat-collecting activities are completed entirely pro bono. Though she's got a scientific background and teaches biology at Mt.

With so many dogs in attendance, she's had to become adept at distinguishing between their feces and the coyotes'. She's looking for coyote scat – the proper scientific word for poo – and it's her job to come here once each month in search of the smelly stuff. 'Domestic dog,' she says, and continues along the path.īoag isn't here for the exercise or to tire out her dog, a labrador-pitbull mix. She grabs a stick lying nearby and pokes around, but it's not what she's looking for. We've only just started circling the lake when she stops to take a closer look at something underneath some bushes. Dozens of people mill about, most of them walking dogs or getting exercise. With its attractively landscaped lawns and commanding views of downtown's skyscrapers, it’s a beautiful spot for a midday stroll. It’s a sunny Monday afternoon and Camille Boag and her rescue dog, Rue, begin their regular walk around Echo Park Lake. Citizen scientist Camille Boag examines a potential coyote scat.

Gay scat teen