Stash Your Food
and Trash
Allowing coyotes access to human food
and garbage is reckless and deadly.
Coyotes primarily hunt rodents and rabbits for food,
but will take advantage of whatever is available,
including garbage, pet food, and domestic animals.
• Put garbage in tightly closed containers that cannot be tipped over.
• Remove sources of water, especially in dry climates. • Bring pets in at night, and do not leave pet food
outside.
• Put away bird feeders at night to avoid attracting
rodents and other coyote prey.
• Provide secure enclosures for rabbits, poultry, etc. • Pick up fallen fruit and cover compost piles.
• Ask your neighbors to follow these tips.
Please respect and protect wild animals.
Keep them wild.
www.keepmewild.org
Feeding Wildlife
is Dead Wrong.
California Department
of Fish and Wildlife
A campaign for all wild animals.
For More Information
Contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Northern Region
Redding – (530) 225-2300
North Central Region
Rancho Cordova – (916) 358-2900
Bay Delta Region
Napa – (707) 944-5500
Central Region
Fresno – (559) 243-4005 ext. 151
South Coast Region
San Diego – (858) 467-4201
Inland Deserts Region
Ontario – (909) 484-0167
Sacramento Headquarters - (916) 322-8911
To order more pamphlets, please call (916) 322-8911 or
email [email protected].
Alternate communication methods are available upon re - quest. If reasonable accommodation is needed, contact the Department of Fish and Wildlife, (916)322-8911 or the
California Relay Service serving deaf and hearing-impaired residents using TTY/TDD phones, and speech-impaired
callers, at (800) 735-2929.
Wild animals are in trouble, and the problem
is people who are careless with food and
garbage.
Coyotes play an important role in the
ecosystem, helping to keep rodent populations
under control. They are by nature fearful of
humans.
If coyotes are given access to human food and
garbage, their behavior changes. They lose
caution and fear. They may cause property
damage. They might threaten human safety.
They might be killed.
Relocating a problem coyote is not an option
because it only moves the problem to
someone else’s neighborhood.
Help prevent deadly conflicts
for these beautiful wild
animals.
“Coyote country” precautions
• Never feed or attempt to tame coyotes. The
result may be deadly conflicts with pets or
livestock, or serious injuries to small children.
• Do not leave small children or pets outside
unattended.
• Install motion-sensitive lighting around the
house.
• Trim ground-level shrubbery to reduce hiding
places.
• Be aware that coyotes are more active in
the spring, when feeding and protecting their
young.
• If followed by a coyote, make loud noises. If
this fails, throw rocks in the animal’s direction.
• If a coyote attacks a person, immediately
contact the nearest Department of Fish and
Wildlife or law enforcement office. After
normal business hours, call 911.
Stash Your Food
and Trash
A campaign for all wild animals.
Coyote-Proof
Containers
Use garbage cans that
have a locking
mechanism on the lid.
Use a rope or elastic
cord to secure the can
to a fence or other solid
object so that it cannot
be tipped over.
New Laws
Feeding coyotes is illegal in some communities.
Many local ordinances require installation of
wildlife-proof garbage containers and make
wildlife feeding punishable by fines.
You Can Help
Please visit www.keepmewild.org for download-
able posters, newspaper advertisements and
other Keep Me Wild™ materials.
Wild Animals Ruined, Even Killed by
People’s Carelessness!
The coyote’s
range covers the
entire state of Cali-
fornia. Most conflicts
occur along borders
between urban and
wild areas.
Coyote
Conflicts