Officials Preach Coexistence Over Killing at Coyote Meeting in Seal Beach

Addressing coyote population management in Seal Beach, local officials encouraged coexistence and education over eradication and relocation Monday evening at a special meeting held at Seal Beach City Hall.

Five local officials addressed a standing room only crowd in the council chambers and encouraged Seal Beach residents to take simple steps to keep coyotes out of local neighborhoods by removing food sources and re-instilling a fear of humans.

"We encourage the healthy coexistence of the public and wildlife," said Long Beach Animal Care Services Manager Ted Stevens told the crowd. "People may not realize they are feeding coyotes when they leave their pet food outside... Coyotes become habituated when they learn that people or neighborhoods are a source of food." 

Stevens also said that despite cries from the public to simply kill the coyote population, studies have shown that killing or relocating coyotes does not solve the problem.

"It is not a permanent solution to just kill coyotes," Stevens said. "It doesn't teach local residents how to coexist with coyotes... It is just an endless cycle of killing."  

As an example, Stevens pointed to recent studies that show aggressively controlling coyote populations actually leads to coyotes increasing their reproductive rate, breeding at an earlier age and having larger litters. A University of California study also showed that killing 75 percent of a coyote population every year for 50 years will still not exterminate a population.

Stevens also pointed to statistics that show there are fewer than 12 coyote attacks on humans each year nationwide compared to more than 4.7 million reported dog bites every year.

Lt. Kent Smirl with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said that humans are generally the ones to blame for coyote problems and emphasized the need to educate the public.

"It is not a four-legged problem we have... It is a two-legged problem," he said. "They become addicted to our food sources... The reality is, if you take away the food, water and shelter, they will be force to deal with that.”

In addition to removing food sources, officials encouraged residents of Seal Beach to keep small pets indoors and on short leashes during walks. Smirl said outdoor cats are especially vulnerable to coyote attacks and emphasized keeping them indoors or in outdoor enclosures.

“They know where your pets are… They know ahead of time where you pets are at,” Smirl said. “We have got to find a way to keep the cats and the small pets indoors.”

The panelists also taught the practice of "hazing," which uses scare tactics to instill a fear of humans in coyotes. Hazing practices include throwing objects at coyotes, using noisemakers, hoses and water guns and also yelling to scare them away.

"Everyone here who has ever owned a pet has done hazing... It is called training,” Stevens said. “It is the same thing with coyotes… They are very, very intelligent and they learn." 

Officials also added that animal control officers will only come to Seal Beach to deal with coyotes under certain circumstances. Stevens said that officers will only respond if the coyote is sick or injured or if it is threatening or attacking a person. 

"If it is two in the morning and you see a coyote running down the street, we won't respond to it," Stevens said. 

Regardless, Seal Beach police Lt. Bob Mullins encouraged residents to report all coyote sighting, however small, to Long Beach Animal Care Services. 

"If you see a coyote, report it," Mullins said. 

Smirl also emphasized that neighbors need to watch out for other neighbors and spread the word about keeping coyotes out of town. 

"Nothing is worse than showing up at a house where a pet has been inviserated on a front lawn and you have a child there… it is not fun,” Smirl said. "Being united is what is going to make a difference here in Seal Beach."

Coyote Prevention Tips:

• Feed pets indoors or promptly remove dishes when pets complete their meals outdoors. Store bags of pet food indoors.
• Use trash barrels fitted with pipe clamping devices on the lids to prevent spills.
• Remove fallen fruit – particularly avocados, from yards and orchards. Fallen fruit will attract other food ‘sources’ for coyotes.
• Clear brush and dense weeds around your property. This deprives shelter to rodents and reduces protective cover for coyotes.
• Keep small animals indoors as much as possible, especially at night.
• Do not feed or provide water to coyotes or other wildlife.
• Do not use plastic bags as garbage containers. Coyotes will rummage through them looking for food.
• Do not put trash cans out the night before the scheduled pick up. Put them out in the morning. Coyotes are intelligent and learn to knock them over to access the contents.

• Never approach a sick, injured or cornered coyote.
• Yell and wave your arms while approaching a coyote.
• Use noisemaker such as whistles, air horns, bells or soda cans filled with pennies to scare the coyote. 
• Use projectiles such as sticks, small rocks, cans, tennis balls or rubber balls to throw at the coyote. 
• Use hoses, water guns or spray bottles.