Coyotes are present in Culver City and throughout Southern California, and recently residents have reported seeing coyotes in our community.
Although they generally avoid human contact, coyotes are wild animals. Coyotes have killed unattended small pets in Culver City. The City monitors residents’ reports of coyote behavior in consultation with wildlife experts, and the City will take appropriate action to protect human safety.
It is especially important that the City be notified of any aggressive coyote behavior towards humans.
Tips to protect your property and pets from coyotes:
Secure all trash
Remove standing water
Feed your pets indoors
Pick up fruit in your yard
Keep pets indoors at night
When you see one, if it is safe to do so, get as large by making noise, appearing threatening, and even throwing objects at them. NEVER do this to an animal that is cornered, protecting its den, or appears injured. If you fear for your safety, find shelter.
Never feed a wild animal. That animal may start approaching humans looking for food and get aggressive.
Hazing Techniques:
Yelling and waving arms
Responding aggressively
Banging pots and pans
Using squirt guns or garden hoses
Throwing tennis balls or rocks
Utilizing whistles or air horns
Hazing Tips:
Stand your ground. Make eye contact and do not run away. Advance toward the coyote with your hazing tools (such as pans, water squirt gun, umbrella, can with coins) if there is hesitation on the part of the coyote.
Make sure the coyote is focused on you as the source of danger or discomfort. Do not haze from buildings or your car where the coyote can’t see you clearly.
Make it multi-sensory. Use tools that scare with sound, light and/or motion.
Variety is essential. Coyotes can learn to recognize and avoid individual people, so the more often a coyote has a negative experience with various hazing tool and different people, the faster he will change his behavior to avoid human contact.
Hazing should be exaggerated, assertive, and consistent. Communities should always maintain some level of hazing using a variety of tools so that the coyotes do not return to unacceptable behavior over time.
Be your neighborhood’s eyes and ears and help maintain a safe community by immediately reporting any coyote presence or activity to the City:
Dedicated Coyote Hotline: (310) 253-6141
City of Culver City