Quartzsite in the winter is a wonderful place to be. It is so very relaxing camping out on the wide open desert with friends, family, and pets. Unfortunately, we must all remember it is a desert and comes with dangers all its own including predators. Reports coming in state coyotes may be coming in too close for comfort at the La Posa BLM areas. Beautiful as they may look, they are not pets and are looking to survive like every other living thing. Do not approach them, attempt to feed them, or try to get that great close up picture. Do not leave your pets outside unattended for even a few minutes. To a coyote or hawk, your sweet little fur baby looks like a sweet little dinner or afternoon snack.
Other predators you need to be watching for are thieves. Every year at this time, many portable generators are stolen along with other camping equipment. Lock it all down or put it away if you aren’t using it. Look to see who is camped around you and learn their faces. If you see anything suspicious, use your camera phone to get pictures and license plates (preferably at a distance) and let others know something is amiss. Better to have a picture of nothing wrong than to be kicking yourself for not taking a picture when you could have helped your neighbor.
Don’t let these warnings dampen your fun at Quartzsite. Have a great time as always. Just don’t forget completely about your safety and security.