These primarily nocturnal scavengers wander Cold Canyon in search of berries, insects, and dead animals. The wily coyote is a resident of Cold Canyon, but individuals are so secretive that few people get even a glimpse of them. These mammals, about the size of a collie or a boxer, remain hidden by day but roam the homestead trail by night, sometimes barking and yipping in a caucaphonous chorus. These scats attest to their varied diet of berries, seeds, and small mammals. These cats are a rare sight in Cold Canyon, but can be readily identified by their spotted coat, pointy ears, and stubby tail.
Bobcats are true carnivores, chasing down mice, rabbits, birds, and snakes for their meals.
Like all mammals, bobcats are primarily nocturnal, but are also active in the mornings and late afternoons. Perhaps the most famous of California's mammals, the mountain lion is also one of the rarest. These large cats are active primarily at night, on the hunt for deer, rabbits, and other mammals, but on occasion they have been seen in the early morning and even the afternoon. By day, mountain lions generally retreat to the more remote parts of Wildhorse and Cold Canyon. They are sometimes confused with bobcats, but their large thick tail and uniformly tawny fur easily distinguish them from Cold Canyon's other wild cat.