Like many cities in California, Oxnard has populations of urban wildlife, including coyotes, that will venture into parks, public places and residential areas in search of food, new territory, or because they have been displaced.
The City’s strategy for managing these interactions is based on balancing respect and protection for wildlife while also protecting public safety.
Prevent Human-Coyote Conflicts
Generally, most wild animals, including coyotes, instinctively avoid or fear humans. However, coyotes that are habituated to humans can lose their fear and will not run away, so it is important to deter coyotes from your home.
Deter Coyotes from Your Home
Do not call 9-1-1 when you see a coyote. In California, relocating wildlife is illegal. Therefore, Oxnard Animal Control and Oxnard Police Officers cannot relocate them. Instead, humanely deter them from your home to protect yourself, family, pets, property, and neighbors.
DO NOT FEED – Never feed coyotes. Providing food and/or water to wild animals will encourage them to continue getting closer.
REMOVE ATTRACTANTS – Coyotes are attracted to food sources, such as water, pet food, and fruit trees, as well as odors that they can perceive as a food source such as trash cans and pet waste. To limit attracting coyotes, be sure to remove these attractants from your yard and property and keep trash containers securely closed.
PETS – Coyotes are attracted to small house pets. They are most active at night and early mornings. However, as they begin to lose their fear of humans, they will increasingly roam residential areas at any hours of the day. Therefore, pets should be indoors when not supervised by their human.
HAZING – If you encounter a coyote in your area, do not run away, as doing so makes you seem like a prey animal. In order to deter coyotes from repeat visits and establishing ‘territory,’ you can use a variety of hazing methods to scare them away. This can include:
- Open your arms wide and wave them to make you seem bigger
- Yell and make loud noises using horns, whistles, and other tools
- Pick up rocks or sticks if nearby and throw them toward the coyotes
Your safety is the number one priority. If you do not feel safe hazing a coyote, walk away normally, while keeping your eyes on the coyote until you’re out of the area.
Be Coyote Aware
Frequently Asked Questions
Coyotes are attracted to easy food sources. They will be attracted to human/pet food, fruit trees (particularly avocados), small pets, rodents, birds, and anything else that they perceive as a potential food source such as pet waste and trash cans. Even when not hungry, coyotes, while shy in nature, may roam into residential neighborhoods out of sheer curiosity. This is why you should deter coyotes away from your home.
If you encounter a coyote on your property or in your neighborhood, do not run away. In order to deter coyotes from repeat visits and establishing “territory,” you can use a variety of hazing methods to scare them away. This includes:
- Open your arms wide and wave them to make you seem bigger
- Yell and make loud noises using horns, whistles, and other tools
Your safety is the number one priority. If you do not feel safe hazing a coyote, walk away normally, while keeping your eyes on the coyote until you’re out of the area. But remember, coyotes that are habituated to humans will not run away so it is important to scare them away when possible.
Remain calm. Coyotes are generally shy in nature and fear humans. Whenever possible you should try to deter the coyote away by hazing. If you have a small dog, pick up and carry your pet so they appear larger. Make sure to secure your dog before hazing a coyote.
To report sightings or encounters, or sign up for alerts, residents should visit: https://ucanr.edu/sites/CoyoteCacher/.
To learn more about coyotes, please take a moment to peruse and share these helpful tips from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on keeping coyotes out of your neighborhood and preventing “human-coyote conflicts”: https://wildlife.ca.gov/HWC/Coyotes