Coyotes are a natural part of life throughout much of California and the Southwest, and sightings have become increasingly common in residential neighborhoods. While seeing a coyote can be unsettling, there are several simple steps homeowners can take to reduce the likelihood of encounters and help keep their families and pets safe. Here are seven practical coyote safety tips every homeowner should know.
Here's how you can help:
🐕 Never leave pets unattended outdoors, especially at dawn, dusk, or after dark. Even fenced yards are not always enough to keep coyotes out.
🍖 Remove food sources. Bring pet food indoors, keep garbage cans tightly sealed, pick up fallen fruit, cover compost bins, and eliminate standing water whenever possible. These attract rodents and other wildlife that coyotes hunt.
🌳 Trim shrubs and dense landscaping. Keeping bushes, ground cover, and vegetation well-maintained reduces hiding places near your home. If you have space beneath decks or sheds, consider enclosing those areas so they cannot be used as dens.
💡 Make your yard less inviting. Motion-activated lights are an effective way to discourage nighttime visits.
🚶 Keep dogs on a short leash. When walking near parks, trails, or open space, use a leash no longer than six feet and stay alert, particularly during early morning and evening hours.
📣 If you encounter a coyote, haze it. Stand tall, wave your arms, make loud noises, clap, or yell. If necessary, stomp your feet or spray it with a hose if you're at home. The goal is to reinforce a healthy fear of people. Never run away.
🤝 Work together as neighbors. Coyote prevention is most effective when the entire community follows the same practices. One yard with easily accessible food can attract wildlife throughout the neighborhood.
By staying proactive, we can help protect our families, our pets, and encourage coyotes to remain where they belong—in the surrounding natural open spaces.