1 California’s safest large city for people and animals Ted Stevens, Manager Animal Care Services Bureau City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine Living with Wildlife in Long Beach City of Long Beach

2 California’s safest large city for people and animals Long Beach Animal Care Services Policy Animal Care Services encourages the healthy co- existence of the public and the natural wildlife. Consistent with the California Code of Regulations. Wildlife

3 California’s safest large city for people and animals Long Beach Animal Care Services Policy ACS will respond to Coyote calls when: 1. Sick and/or injured 2. Out during the day in areas around people, especially children (parks/schools) 3. Threatening/attack on a person Wildlife

4 California’s safest large city for people and animals Solving Problems with Coyotes 1. Why are Coyotes in Seal Beach 2. Solving Coyote Conflicts Changing Coyote Behavior Changing our Behavior 3. Tips for Co-Existence

5 California’s safest large city for people and animals Why Seal Beach? Why are Coyotes in Seal Beach?

6 California’s safest large city for people and animals Coyote Ecology Habitat Needs Coyotes live in all landscape types Coyotes live in close proximity to people, but people usually rarely see them Some coyotes live in heavily urbanized landscapes Within their home ranges, coyotes show preference to natural habitats Coyotes go out of their way to avoid people

7 California’s safest large city for people and animals Plenty of habitat Plenty of food Mice & rats – free rodent control! Small mammals Helping to balance the ecosystem Little Competition – top predator Why Seal Beach?

8 California’s safest large city for people and animals Other possible attractants: Pet food and water outside Unsecured garbage cans Messy bird feeders Fruit left on the ground Accessible vegetable gardens Compost piles Available small pets Intentional feeding? Why Seal Beach?

9 California’s safest large city for people and animals Coyote Sightings Coyotes are naturally diurnal (active at dawn and dusk) Coyotes naturally avoid people Most coyotes are never seen by people, despite living nearby Coyotes living in close proximity to people can become habituated, or lose their fear of people Why Seal Beach?

10 California’s safest large city for people and animals Why Seal Beach? Coyote Habituation Coyotes usually become habituated when they learn that people and/or neighborhoods are a source of food: Pet food outside Unsecured trash Compost piles Fruit trees (rotting fruit) Bird feeders Habituation is a learned behavior We reinforce this behavior by not reacting when we see a coyote.

11 California’s safest large city for people and animals Preventing Coyote Conflicts

12 California’s safest large city for people and animals Preventing Coyote Conflicts Will Coyotes attack pets? Coyotes normally hunt small rodents Unattended pets (especially small dogs and cats) are at risk of coyote attack Larger breed dogs at higher risk during coyote breeding season Proper pet care & safety is paramount!

13 California’s safest large city for people and animals Protecting dogs Always attend pets when outdoors Use short leashes when walking pets Keep pets inside at night Do not allow coyote between you and pet Do not allow dogs to play with coyotes Preventing Coyote Conflicts

14 California’s safest large city for people and animals Preventing Coyote Conflicts Small dogs Especially important to accompany outdoors Always use leash Pickup dog if you encounter a coyote Large dogs Be extra vigilant during January-March Always use leash Do not allow dog to play with Coyote!

15 California’s safest large city for people and animals Preventing Coyote Conflicts Protecting cats The ONLY way to ensure cat safety is to keep them indoors! OR Use a leash and harness Buy a cat enclosure

16 California’s safest large city for people and animals Protecting pets at home Remove thick brush near homes Secure garbage lids Clean up under bird feeders Keep pet food inside Pick up fruit/vegetables on ground Motion activated lights and sprinklers Fence protection (rollers/screens) Preventing Coyote Conflicts

17 California’s safest large city for people and animals Preventing Coyote Conflicts Do coyotes attack people? Coyote attacks on people are very rare! Average < 12 bites per year in U.S. 4.7 million dog bites/year in U.S.

18 California’s safest large city for people and animals Preventing Coyote Conflicts Safety tips for children Never leave small children unattended outside Pick up small children if coyote is nearby Teach children safety around strange dogs/animals Be S.M.A.R.T Stop and don’t make sudden moves Make yourself look big Announce yourself by making noise Retreat by backing away slowly (Do not try and run away) Tell an adult

19 California’s safest large city for people and animals Solutions for Coyote Conflicts

20 California’s safest large city for people and animals Solutions for Coyote Conflicts How to address Problematic Coyote Behavior? Removal Relocation Hazing

21 California’s safest large city for people and animals Solutions for Coyote Conflicts Lethal Removal Extremely difficult & expensive to catch “problem” coyote Transient coyotes will fill empty home ranges Coyote populations that have been trapped may reproduce more Doesn’t address the root cause of the conflicts Doesn’t eliminate attractants Doesn’t teach local residents how to coexist with coyotes Doesn’t teach coyotes acceptable behavior Endless cycle of killing

22 California’s safest large city for people and animals Solutions for Coyote Conflicts Lethal Removal 7 year study in Southeast Colorado 92 Coyotes collared and tracked Removal area and control area Population reduced 61-75% every year Population size went back up to pre-removal numbers in 8 months Mean litter sizes doubled Litter sex ratio favored females after removal Yearlings reproduced in removal area and did not in control area

23 California’s safest large city for people and animals Solutions for Coyote Conflicts Relocation Not allowed in California Just moves the “problem” to another community Cook County Coyote Project monitored 12 relocated nuisance coyotes None remained at their release site (all gone within 24 hours) All traveled toward their original home range None returned successfully Killed by cars or hunters Disputes with other coyotes

24 California’s safest large city for people and animals Solutions for Coyote Conflicts To address Coyote conflicts we must: Change Coyote Behavior AND Change our behavior

25 California’s safest large city for people and animals Changing our Behavior To avoid conflicts with coyotes: Eliminate food attractants and wildlife feeding Take precautions with pets Teach children Educate our neighbors Solutions for Coyote Conflicts

26 California’s safest large city for people and animals Coyote Hazing Training method that employs immediate use of deterrents to move an animal out of an area or discourage an undesirable behavior or activity. Solutions for Coyote Conflicts

27 California’s safest large city for people and animals Coyote Hazing = using various techniques to reinstill the natural fear of humans back to habituated coyotes. Techniques include: Yelling and waving arms Respond aggressively Banging Pots and Pans Using squirt guns or hoses Throwing things (tennis balls or rocks) Whistles or airhorns Marking our territory in a way they understand Coyote hazing changes coyote behavior Learned behavior is passed on to family members and pups Never ignore or run! Solutions for Coyote Conflicts

28 California’s safest large city for people and animals Solutions for Coyote Conflicts Coyote Hazing Best Practices: MUST make a connection with the coyote for hazing to work Hazing from car or house is not effective Paintballing from behind bushes is not effective Put yourself between coyote and your pet or child Using squirt guns or hoses Must continue hazing until the coyote has completely left the area

29 California’s safest large city for people and animals Coyote Hazing Best Practices: Variety of methods and hazers is important Only use noisemakers, etc… when you have a connection w/ coyote Usually only 2-3 times needed per coyote/coyote family group Solutions for Coyote Conflicts

30 California’s safest large city for people and animals Coyote Hazing: Additional tips and precautions Never haze a sick or injured coyote Behavior of sick/injured coyotes is unpredictable Do not haze cornered coyote Ensure that there is plenty of room for coyote to escape Young children should call for an adult Most important for children not to run Solutions for Coyote Conflicts

31 California’s safest large city for people and animals Solutions for Coyote Conflicts NEVER EVER FEED COYOTES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

32 California’s safest large city for people and animals In Conclusion… To prevent coyote conflicts we must Change our behavior: Eliminate food attractants Take precautions with pets Teach children to be S.M.A.R.T around coyotes Change problematic coyote behavior: With hazing All work together!

33 California’s safest large city for people and animals Thank You! A Very Special Thank You to Lynsey White Dasher And The Humane Society of the United States

34 California’s safest large city for people and animals Thank You! To Report Coyote Sightings or Conflicts (562) PETS

35 California’s safest large city for people and animals Thank You! Questions?