Coyotes are roaming neighborhoods in Mill Valley, and in one instance likely killed a pet cat.

Now several groups, including the Marin Humane Society and Mill Valley police, are attempting to educate residents on how to keep coyotes away from their homes.

The word is coming too late for the Lopez family, who believe their 15-year-old tabby, James, was killed by a coyote June 12 near their Shell Road home adjacent to the Horse Hill open space area.

"He was a real hunter and he would go out of the house," Christine Lopez said. "But he stays pretty much within the yard."

After he went missing, the Lopezes put up fliers in the neighborhood asking if anyone had seen James. A neighbor responded, saying he found a paw near his home. Lopez said the paw belonged to James.

"He is very much missed," Lopez said of James, adding that James' brother, Elvis, is now herded into the house when it is dark outside. "I understand that the coyotes are natural to this environment, but when they are boxed in and they have to cross through neighborhoods to get to open space, that's inappropriate. It's cruel to the coyotes."

Virginia Fifield of Greenbrae, an animal expert, said coyotes are adapting well - and it's the human population that needs to change its patterns.

"People need to adapt," she said. "That means not leaving dog food out, keeping cats contained and keeping dogs on leashes. And people cannot feed the coyotes."

Fifield estimated there are at least a half dozen coyotes, including pups, in the Horse Hill area.

The coyotes migrate and venture as far as the Mill Valley Golf Course and Mount Tamalpais, said Fifield, who has used radio collars to track their movement as part of a previous study. The Scott Valley neighborhood has had coyote visits as well.

Fifield said residents can solve problems by "vexing" the coyotes.

"People have to take measures to deter their habituation to neighborhoods. That means shooting water at them from a hose or throwing rocks and yelling and waving arms. We want them to be afraid of people," she said.

Cindy Machado of the Marin Humane Society agreed people need to take steps to make sure coyotes stay out of their neighborhoods.

"We want to do some quick education of the community by mailers and door hangers," said Machado. "There will also be some signage at trailheads as well."

A community meeting might also be scheduled.

Machado said coyotes are after food, and in particular rabbits and rodents.

"People should think about it in the context of the larger ecosystem. Rodents look for food and they find it in pet food that is left outside, or in food for deer that people leave out. That attracts rodents, which attracts coyotes," she said. "Even fruit trees which drop fruit can be a problem."

The coyotes are not limited to Mill Valley. In recent years they have been seen at Peacock Gap, China Camp and Terra Linda in San Rafael, as well as near Hamilton in Novato, Machado said.

While generally not a threat to humans, Machado noted it's prudent to supervise small children.

"Generally, there is no threat, but if people are feeding them in their yards, there is more of a threat," she said.