Coyotes are smart, adaptable canines who have learned to live comfortably alongside people in residential neighborhoods. Lately, residents have been spotting coyotes roaming City streets at night. Coyotes, by nature, will avoid human contact; however, when people unknowingly feed them with open trash containers and pet food left outside, coyotes lose their natural fear. Once this occurs, sightings will become more frequent and often dangerous, especially for outdoor pets.
If coyotes have been roaming in your neighborhood, ensure all trash is secured in the trash containers, remove water sources, bring in pets at night, do not leave pet food outside, and clean up fallen fruit and cover compost piles. As a reminder, although coyotes are not aggressive towards human beings, they are wild animals and, if aggravated, can respond in a potentially dangerous manner. If you spot a coyote, do not approach or attempt to feed it; instead call the California Department of Fish and Wildlife at 858.467.4201.
