Torrance City Council
September 15, 2026

10A
Date: September 15, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Ted Stevens, Community Services Director
By: Brent Rivas, Administrative Analyst | [email protected] Subject: Community Services – Accept and File Fiscal Year 2025-26 Coyote Management Program Update and Discuss and Concur with a Reduced Schedule of Coyote Abatement Services. Expenditure: None.

RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the Community Services Director that City Council:

1. Accept and file the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Coyote Management Program update; and

2. Discuss and concur with a reduced schedule of coyote abatement services.

FUNDING
None required.

DISCUSSION
Established in 2016 in response to increased coyote activity and community concerns, the City of Torrance Coyote Management Program provides a comprehensive approach to reducing human- coyote conflicts through public education, reporting and monitoring, community outreach, and coyote control activities. Program activities are guided by the City’s Coyote Management Plan, which emphasizes public safety, prevention, education, and appropriate responses to coyote encounters in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

In September 2019, City Council adopted an updated Coyote Management Plan that expanded the City’s management efforts by establishing an annual active trapping cycle, creating a 24-hour coyote hotline, and enhancing community education and outreach. Administration of the Coyote Management Program subsequently transferred from the Police Department to the Community Services Department in August 2020.

In November 2021, City Council authorized year-round coyote abatement services, expanding the seasonal trapping approach established under the 2019 Plan. In September 2022, City Council considered several service level options and authorized the continuation of coyote abatement services.

Since that time, Community Services has continued to administer the Coyote Management Program through a combination of coyote abatement services, public reporting and monitoring, community education and outreach, and regional coordination. 1 City Council
September 15, 2026

During Fiscal Year 2025-26 (FY 25-26), Community Services continued to monitor and administer the City’s coyote management activities. These efforts included managing coyote abatement vendor services in accordance with California Department of Fish and Wildlife laws and guidelines; compiling and organizing reports received from residents and the coyote abatement vendor through official City communication channels; producing weekly and monthly Coyote Activity Reports; and following up with residents to provide education tailored to specific coyote encounters.

The City also continued to use GIS mapping to analyze coyote encounters by season, location, and type. Staff developed and published fact sheets and educational displays highlighting seasonal coyote behavior and effective safety and prevention strategies based on the coyote life cycle. Community outreach included seven articles published in the Torrance e-Newsletter since July 2025, as well as quarterly information provided through the Seasons guide.

The City’s IT Department is finalizing development of an in-house coyote management portal that will provide a public-facing platform for coyote-related information and reporting. The City also plans to include an online map displaying reported coyote activity based on tiered response levels.

In September 2025, staff hosted the South Bay Regional Agency Coyote Management Meeting, attended by representatives from 15 agencies. The meeting provided an opportunity for participating agencies to share information and discuss regional coyote management practices and approaches.

The City’s Coyote Management Plan provides the framework for these activities, with coyote abatement services serving as one component of the City’s overall management approach. The FY 25-26 Coyote Activity Report Summary (Attachment 1) provides additional information regarding reported activity during the fiscal year. Reported coyote sightings declined from 436 in FY 24-25 to 387 in FY 25-26, while the number of coyotes captured declined from 28 to 23. Of the 23 coyotes captured during FY 25-26, only eight were captured during the six-month period from January through June 2026.

Based on the City’s ongoing coyote management efforts and the activity summarized in the FY 25-26 Coyote Activity Report Summary, staff is seeking City Council direction regarding the continuation and appropriate level of coyote abatement services. The decline in reported activity provides a basis for considering a reduced or as-needed trapping strategy while maintaining the City’s broader emphasis on public education, reporting, monitoring, and targeted response to serious or localized activity. This approach would retain trapping as an available management tool while allowing the level of service to be adjusted based on reported activity and demonstrated need.

Accordingly, it is the recommendation of the Community Services Director that City Council accept and file the FY 25-26 Coyote Management Program Update and discuss and concur with a reduced schedule of coyote abatement services. Following City Council’s direction regarding the desired level of service, staff will formalize a contract with the most qualified prospective vendor in accordance with adopted City purchasing guidelines.
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September 15, 2026

ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
The City previously completed an Initial Study pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the 2019 Coyote Management Plan Update, which evaluated the environmental impacts associated with implementation of the Plan, including coyote trapping and euthanization.

Based on the Initial Study, the City determined that implementation of the Coyote Management Plan would not have a significant effect on the environment and adopted a Negative Declaration.

The continuation of coyote abatement services, including consideration of a reduced or as- needed trapping strategy, is consistent with the coyote management activities evaluated under the 2019 Coyote Management Plan Update. Accordingly, no additional environmental review is required under CEQA.

ATTACHMENTS

1. FY 25-26 Coyote Activity Report Summary

2. Coyote Management Plan
3 Coyote Management Program

COYOTE ACTIVITY REPORT SUMMARY

Reports Received by Official City Channels
July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
FY 2025-26 — PRIMARY REPORTING YEAR

387 Sightings
15 Dog Attacks
2 Dog Attack Fatalities
5 Cat Attacks
38 Cat Attack Fatalities
11 Wildlife Fatalities
5 Carrion Coyotes (non-trapped)
23 Captured Coyotes (trapped)

HISTORICAL COMPARISON
Activity Category FY 24-25 FY 23-24 FY 22-23
Sightings 436 283 300
Dog Attacks 12 5 5
Dog Attack Fatalities 3 0 1
Cat Attacks 4 3 4
Cat Attack Fatalities 54 65 46
Wildlife Fatalities 8 20 13
Carrion Coyotes (non-trapped) 2 7 6
Captured Coyotes (trapped) 28 28 26

458
Number of coyote activity
reports submitted by residents FY 25-26
* Fiscal year reporting period is July 1 through June 30. ** Activity categories include resident-reported sightings, animal attacks/fatalities, carrion, and captured coyotes as applicable.

ATTACHMENT 1
4 COYOTE MANAGEMENT PLAN
Revised August 2025
ATTACHMENT 2
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CITY OF TORRANCE COYOTE MANAGEMENT
PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgement ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Coyote Management Plan .......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Background .................................................................................................................. 4 Guiding Principles .......................................................................................................... 5 Coyotes ...........................................................................................................................................................................................6 What Are Urban Coyotes? ................................................................................................ 6 Appearance .................................................................................................................. 6 Habitat ....................................................................................................................... 7 Breeding ..................................................................................................................... 7 Diet ........................................................................................................................... 7 Population Size ............................................................................................................. 7 Role In South Bay .......................................................................................................... 8 Normal Behavior Versus Problem Behavior ............................................................................ 8 Coyote Management Strategies ..............................................................................................................................................8 Education & Outreach ..................................................................................................... 8 Data Collection & Analysis ............................................................................................... 9 Community Services Department
3031 Torrance Boulevard
Torrance, California 90503
(310) 618-2945
www.TorranceCA.Gov/Coyotes
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Hazing & Behavior Change ............................................................................................. 10 Wildlife Feeding Enforcement .......................................................................................... 12 Attractant Reduction/Elimination ..................................................................................... 14 Response Plan ........................................................................................................................................................................... 16 Incident Defined .......................................................................................................... 17 Tiered City Response .................................................................................................... 18 Coyote Abatement ....................................................................................................... 19 Considerations ........................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Relocating Wildlife .............................................................................................................................................................. 19 Appendix A .................................................................................................................................................................................. 20 Definitions ............................................................................................................................................................................. 20 Appendix B .................................................................................................................................................................................. 23 Overview of Hazing ............................................................................................................................................................. 23 Appendix C .................................................................................................................................................................................. 25 At-Home Coyote Prevention Checklist .......................................................................................................................... 25

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Acknowledgement
The City of Torrance does not own or control wild animals within city boundaries. The City is not responsible for actions or damage caused by wild animals on privately owned property.

The Coyote Management Plan, known as the Plan, aims to provide guidance for managing coyote interactions in the City of Torrance. The guidelines and provisions of this Plan do not supersede federal, state or county regulations. Additionally, the Plan does not restrict the legal rights of Torrance residents, businesses, or homeowner associations in addressing coyote-related issues.

Coyote Management Plan
Background
In 2016, the City of Torrance, alongside other Southern California municipalities, observed an increase in reported coyote encounters. These incidents included coyote attacks on pets and wildlife, as well as increased sightings in populated areas. These incidents sparked concern among residents and prompted the City to identify strategies to address coyote activity.

In response to these concerns, City staff conducted a comprehensive survey of existing Coyote Management Plans in the region. Staff also reviewed Coyote Guidelines from the Humane Society of the United States and researched coyote ecology to better understand urban coyotes. These efforts informed the development of a tailored coyote management plan specific to the City of Torrance.

First adopted by Torrance City Council in 2016, the Coyote Management Plan has undergone several revisions. Increased knowledge, experience and expertise have driven 8 5

refinements, resulting in more effective management strategies as reflected in the updated Plan.

The Plan seeks to implement sound, safe, and responsive coyote management to address human-coyote conflicts, as well as conduct coyote control activities in accordance with federal, state, and local laws & regulations.

Guiding Principles
The City of Torrance Coyote Management Plan aims to minimize human-coyote conflict while prioritizing public safety and fostering coexistence.

Grounded in evidence-based coyote research and tailored to community needs, the Plan is founded on the following principles drawn from wildlife management best practices:

1. Prioritize human safety. The primary focus is to ensure public safety by equipping residents with information, tools, and knowledge to ensure safe interactions between people and coyotes.

2. Promote preventive measures. Encourage proactive solutions, such as removing food attractants, modifying habitat to discourage unwanted visits, and practicing proper trash management.

3. Address Problematic Behaviors. Solutions target both human and coyote behaviors that contribute to conflict, including:
 Problematic human behavior: Feeding coyotes (intentionally or unintentionally), leaving pets unattended outdoors, and failing to haze or scare coyotes.
 Problematic coyote behavior: losing fear of humans and showing aggression toward people and supervised pets.

4. Foster Community-Wide Engagement. Achieving coexistence requires active participation from residents, homeowner’s associations, members of the community as well as City staff in a collaborative, community driven program.

The Plan provides a framework for program activities to broaden residents’ knowledge of coyote behavior, offer methods to reduce potential risks, and deliver clear strategies for managing interactions to minimize or prevent conflict.

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Coyotes
Coyotes are native to North America. These medium-sized mammals, known as Canis latrans, are members of the canine family. Fossil records confirm the presence of coyotes in Los Angeles that date back before the Ice Age. They are incredibly adaptable creatures and live in nearly every type of environment in the continental United States.

Coyotes are highly social animals. Coyotes live in family packs which consist of 3-8 members. It is led by an alpha male and female. These packs defend territory and resources. The family unit also helps raise pups. Coyotes may also roam alone as transient coyotes without a territory. Transients live in undefended zones between territories.

What Are Urban Coyotes?
Coyotes are not limited to rural areas or wilderness. To the contrary, coyotes thrive in urban areas for several key reasons:
 Abundant food sources. They are highly adaptable and consume a wide range of food found conveniently in neighborhoods. Urban coyotes learned to take advantage of unsecured food sources leȅ outside by people. Rodents, also attracted to food waste, are primary prey to coyotes.
 Fewer natural predators. In areas like the South Bay, coyotes face little to no threat from natural predators like bears, mountain lions, and wolves, which are rare in Torrance. Because coyotes have no natural predators in the city, their defacto placement is at the top of the food chain.
 Adapted urban behavior. Unlike rural coyotes, urban coyotes are adept at navigating cities, towns and residential neighborhoods. They are accustomed to urban noises, traffic and city life. While typically cautious around people, coyotes can become habituated, or lose their fear of people, if they’re regularly exposed to food sources near humans, especially through intentional feeding. This can result in coyotes approaching people or comfortably visiting yards when people are present.

Appearance
Coyotes closely resemble certain domestic dog breeds. They are slender and have large, pointed ears, brown camouflage colored fur, and yellow brown eyes. The average western coyote adult, found in California, weigh approximately 20-35 pounds and stand 18 inches tall.

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Habitat
Coyotes are highly versatile and can live in many types of environments, including deserts, forests, mountains, prairies, and big cities. Urban coyotes live near human-populated areas in open green spaces within the city. They move about the city using flood channels, easements, train tracks, alleys, and streets. An ideal habitat for coyotes is near food and water. Areas with dense vegetation, brush piles or wooded areas provide cover for coyotes to hide. Urban coyotes also use human-built structures, such as culverts, storm drains, abandoned buildings or spaces under decks and shed to rest or den during pupping months.

Breeding
Coyotes mate once a year. The process begins in January as coyotes select a mate if they don’t already have one. Only the alpha male and alpha female mate. The gestation period is approximately 63 days. During spring, a litter of coyote pups is born. The average litter is between 4-7 pups. The number can increase up to 11 pups if resources like food and water, are plentiful.

Diet
Coyotes thrive in urban areas because of their dietary adaptability. Their diet is comprised of natural prey (rodents, rabbits, lizards, fish) and human-related food sources (unsecured trash, pet food, fruit from trees, and occasionally pets leȅ unsupervised outdoors).

A recent study conducted by the National Park Service in Los Angeles County revealed that urban coyotes rely on human-related food sources. Analysis showed that at least 65% of a coyotes diet is supplied by human activity, whether intentional or unintentional.

Population Size
Estimating the coyote population in the City of Torrance is a challenging task. Coyotes move across city boundaries within their home range. A coyote’s territory, the area within their home range which they defend, may overlap across the South Bay. Tracking coyote populations through reports of coyote sightings are also unreliable. Multiple reports from the community may identify the same individual coyote.
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Conducting a population size study would demand a significant amount of resources, including staff time and costs with potentially indeterminant results. These resources are better directed toward outreach and education efforts.

Role In South Bay
Coyotes play a vital role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem in Torrance. They control rodent populations that carry disease. Coyotes also prevent an overpopulation of smaller urban mammals, such as mice, rats, gophers, skunks, possums, raccoons, that can damage urban green spaces, such as parks and residential yards. By maintaining this balance, coyotes promote biodiversity and help reduce spread of disease in the urban environment.

Normal Behavior Versus Problem Behavior
Misconceptions about coyotes can illicit fear and create a negative public perception.

Distinguishing between normal behaviors and problematic coyote behavior is important for setting realistic expectations in human coyote encounters. This understanding is a central tenet of the coyote management plan.

Coyote Management Strategies
The City of Torrance is committed to fostering coexistence with coyotes while prioritizing public safety. The comprehensive strategy, developed over nine years, integrates public education, data driven outreach based on citizen reports, and a tiered response to human- coyote interactions. Effective coyote management requires collaboration among residents, homeowners’ associations, community-members and City staff.

Education & Outreach
Education is the cornerstone of wildlife conflict management. Demystifying coyote myths and providing factual information empowers residents to make informed decisions about their safety and the well-being of their pets. Providing information to residents include minimizing attractants, responsible pet-ownership, understanding normal versus nuisance behavior and hazing to deter coyotes.
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Dissemination of information to residents, businesses, and schools will be accomplished through the use of the City websites, Torrance Communications, social media, MyTorrance App, mailers, flyers and handouts, and other communication platforms.

Learning how to respond to a coyote encounter empowers residents and supports reshaping undesired coyote behavior. The public should understand what normal coyote behavior is when living in close proximity with coyotes. For example, vocalization is normal acceptable behavior and does not indicate aggression.

People respond to coyotes in various ways: some observe them with enjoyment, others with indifference, and some with fear or concern. Personal experiences with coyotes may influence their perceptions. Experiences range from animal sightings without incident, to stalking, killing of pets, or, in the rarest circumstance, an attack on a person.

Because wild animals conjure fear, actual sightings and perceptions may become exaggerated or misconstrued (see Appendix A for description of types of coyote encounters). The wide range in perceptions of urban coyotes from Torrance residents supports the need for strong and consistent educational messages to clarify and teach management techniques.

Data Collection & Analysis
Monitoring and data collection are critical components of an effective coyote management plan. This is best accomplished with input from residents and the community at-large. The Community Services Department records and tracks coyote sightings and incidents (See Appendix A for definitions).

Reports of coyote sightings/incidents should be submitted to official City of Torrance reporting channels:

For a coyote behaving aggressively or attacking a person:
 Call 9-1-1

For sightings or other incidents:
 Complete a report on the Coyote Management Portal
https://torrancecoyote.customerportal.help/en;
 Call the 24-Hour Hotline at (310) 618-3898; or
 Use the myTorranceCA app.

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The purpose of monitoring human-coyote interactions is to document where coyotes are frequently seen and to identify human-coyote conflict hotspots. Gathering specific data on incidents will allow for targeting of educational campaigns and conflict mitigation efforts, as well as the ability to measure success in reducing conflicts over time.

Hazing & Behavior Change
Some coyotes have become too comfortable in the close proximity of people. To safely coexist, it’s important to modify this behavior and attitude in resident coyote populations.

Habituated coyote behavior needs to be reshaped to encourage coyotes to avoid contact with humans and pets.

Hazing – also known as “fear conditioning” is the process that facilitates this change and is by necessity a community response to negative encounters with coyotes. It is one tool of a comprehensive coyote management strategy to reduce human-coyote conflict. The more oȅen an individual animal is hazed, the more effective hazing is in changing coyote behavior.

Hazing employs immediate use of deterrents to move an animal out of an area or discourage undesirable behavior or activity. Deterrents include loud noises, spraying water, shining bright lights, throwing objects near the coyote, and shouting. Hazing can help maintain a coyote’s fear of humans and discourage them from entering neighborhoods, such as backyards and play areas. Hazing does not harm or damage animals, humans or property. Behavioral change also involves human activities such as how to identify and remove attractants and how to responsibly protect pets.

Foundation of hazing

a) It is not economically, ecologically or in other ways efficient to try and eradicate all coyotes from the urban ecosystem.
b) Hazing is one piece of a long-term plan in creating safe and acceptable living situations, increasing understanding and reducing conflict between coyotes and people.

Goals of hazing

a) To reshape coyote behavior to avoid human contact in an urban setting. Human behavior can shape animal behavior, in either a negative or positive manner. People living in close proximity to coyotes can remove coyote attractants, identify potentially 14 11

dangerous situations for their pets and themselves, and respond in a manner designed to change coyote behavior.
b) To provide residents information and tools to actively engage in reshaping coyote behavior and to support feeling safe in their parks and neighborhoods. This can be accomplished by teaching residents hazing techniques.
c) To model hazing behavior and share accurate information about coyotes among other residents, friends, and family.
d) Monitor hazing to assess its effectiveness and determine if further action or more aggressive hazing is needed.
e) Develop long-term community-based hazing programs.

General considerations

1. Hazing must be more exaggerated, aggressive, and consistent when first beginning a program. As coyotes “learn” appropriate responses to hazing, it will take less effort from hazers. Early in the process, it is extremely common for coyotes not to respond to hazing techniques. Without a history of hazing, they do not have the relevant context to respond in the desired outcome (to leave).

2. Techniques and tools can be used in the same manner for one or multiple coyotes.

Usually there is a dominant coyote in a group who will respond - others will follow its lead. DO NOT ignore, turn your back or avoid hazing because there are multiple coyotes instead of a single individual.

3. The more oȅen an individual coyote is hazed by a variety of tools and techniques and a variety of people, the more effective hazing will be in changing that animal’s future behavior.

4. Hazing must be directly associated with the person involved in the hazing actions. The coyote must be aware of where the potential threat is coming from and identify the person.

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5. Coyotes can and do recognize individual people and animals in their territories. They can learn to avoid or harass specific individuals in response to behavior of the person and/or pet.

6. Coyotes can be routine in habit. Identifying their normal habits can help target which habits to change. For example, the coyote patrols the same bike path at the same time in the morning three to five days a week. Hazers should concentrate on that time and place to encourage the animal to adapt its routine to decrease contact with people.

7. Certain levels of hazing must always be maintained so that future generations of coyotes do not learn or return to unacceptable habits related to habituation to people.

8. Human behavior must change to support hazing and continued identification and, if necessary, remove possible attractants.

9. Education about exclusion techniques including how to identify and remove attractants, personal responsibility in pet safety and having reasonable expectations are critical parts of a coyote hazing plan.

10. Coyotes are skittish by nature. Habituated behavior is learned and reinforced by human behavior. Coyotes as a rule do not act aggressively towards aggressive people. The one exception is a sick or injured animal. Engaging a sick or injured animal can result in unpredictable behavior. If this is suspected, people should not engage and remove themselves from the situation, then immediately contact the Torrance Animal Control or the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

11. Individuals involved in hazing need to be trained or educated in explaining hazing to residents who witness the process. They also need to explain the difference between hazing and harassment of wildlife and goals of appropriate behavior for coexistence.

Wildlife Feeding Enforcement
The act of feeding wildlife is known to lead to an increase in wildlife activity and unnaturally increases their population size. Feeding can attract coyotes and their prey to an area leading to an increased likelihood of creating habituated coyotes and resulting in increases in coyote - 16 13

human interactions. Instead of fearing humans, coyotes positively associate people with food sources.

Feeding wildlife is prohibited under California state law. The City of Torrance adheres to applicable state and county regulations and will strictly enforce state laws pertaining to this activity.

CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS TITLE 14 §251.1
– Harassment of Animals

Except as otherwise authorized in these regulations or in the Fish & Game Code, no person shall harass, herd or drive any game or nongame bird or mammal or furbearing mammal. For the purposes of this section, harass is defined as an intentional act which disrupts an animal's normal behavior patterns, which includes, but is not limited to, breeding, feeding or sheltering.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY CODE TITLE 10

§10.84.010 – Providing Food for Certain Rodents or Predator Animals Prohibited

A. Except as otherwise provided for herein, no person shall feed or in any manner provide food to a non-domesticated rodent or a non-domesticated mammalian predator.

B. For purposes of this chapter:

1. “Rodent” includes ground squirrels;

2. “Mammalian predators” includes coyote, raccoon, fox and opossum.

TORRANCE MUNICIPAL CODE

41.12.1 – Torrance Adoption of Los Angeles County Code Title 10

 It is unlawful to violate any provision of Los Angeles County Code Title 10 17 14

Attractant Reduction/Elimination
Coyotes are drawn to urban and suburban areas for the following reasons:

1. Food – Urban areas host a bounty of natural food choices for coyotes such as rodents and other small mammals. Coyotes are also attracted to suburban neighborhoods as a result of food sources associated with human life, such as pet food, unsecured compost or trash, fallen fruit in yards and occasionally small pets. Intentional and unintentional feeding can lead coyotes to associate humans and neighborhoods with easily available food, which can result in negative interactions among coyotes, people, and pets. To reduce food attractants in urban and suburban areas:
a) Never hand-feed or otherwise deliberately feed a coyote. b) Avoid feeding pets outside. Remove sources of pet food and water. If feeding pets outside is necessary, promptly remove the bowl and any leȅover food. c) Never compost any meat or dairy, unless the compost is fully secured. d) Maintain good grounds keeping to discourage coyote activity near residences, such as regularly raking areas around bird feeders and removing fallen fruit around any vegetation.
e) Keep trash in high-quality containers with tight-fitting lids. If there is a coyote sighting near you, place trash cans curbside in the morning of collection. If leȅ out overnight, trash cans are more likely to be tipped over and broken into.
f) Bag attractive food waste such as meat scraps or leȅover pet food before discarding.

2. Water – Urban areas provide a year-round supply of water in the form of storm water impoundments and channels, artificial lakes, irrigation, pet water dishes, and more, which are accessible for both coyotes and their prey. In dry conditions, water can be as alluring as food, so remove water bowls set outside for pets and make watering cans unavailable.

3. Access to shelter – Parks, greenbelts, open spaces, sumps, golf courses, buildings, sheds, decks, crawl spaces, and other open green areas increase the amount and variability of cover for coyotes. They allow coyotes to safely and easily remain close to people, pets, homes, and businesses without detection. In the spring, when coyotes give birth and begin to raise their young, they concentrate their activities 18 15

around dens or burrows in which their young are sheltered. Coyotes may take advantage of available spaces under sheds or decks for use as a den, bringing them into close contact with people and pets.

4. Unattended pets – Coyotes primarily eat small mammals such as mice and rats and will also prey on slightly larger mammals such as rabbits and groundhogs. Animals that are approximately the same size as a groundhog or rabbit, including small cats and dogs, may attract coyotes into neighborhoods.
a) The best way to minimize risk to pets from coyotes (and the other dangers of outdoor life such as cars, disease, dogs and other wildlife) is to keep small pets indoors (or only let them outside in a secure enclosure or when accompanied by a person and under the control of a leash and harness). 19 16

b) It is important to either keep dogs on a leash six feet long or shorter when outdoors or to stay within six feet of them when outside. Coyotes may view a dog on a leash longer than six feet as an unattended pet.

c) Although attacks on larger dogs are rare, coyotes will sometimes go aȅer a large dog when they feel that their territory is threatened. This generally occurs during the coyote breeding season, which takes place from January through March. During this time, it is especially important not to let dogs outside unattended and to keep them on leashes (six feet long or less) when in public areas.

5. Feral cats – People who feed feral cats are oȅen concerned that coyotes might prey on the cats. These concerns are well founded, as coyotes can be attracted to the outdoor pet food. Although there is no sure way to protect feral cats from coyotes, please remember:
a) California laws prohibit feeding wildlife. Do not encourage feral cat behaviors and populations.
b) Haze coyotes seen on the property (see Appendix B). Making them feel uncomfortable will encourage them to stay out of the area.

Other domestic animals kept outside, such as rabbits, may also be viewed as prey by coyotes. Protect outdoor animals from coyotes (and other predators) with protective fencing, by ensuring that they are confined in sturdy cages.

Residents are encouraged to use the At-Home Coyote Prevention Checklist (Appendix C) as a tool to help recognize and remove attractants in their yards and neighborhoods.

Response Plan
While attacks on humans are rare, urban landscape development, habituation through intentional and unintentional feeding, pet related incidents, and media attention have led some urban residents to fear coyotes. It is important to note that attacks on free-roaming and unattended small pets are normal coyote behavior and do not necessarily indicate a danger for people.

A detailed tiered response plan has been developed to provide a mechanism for identifying and classifying different levels of human and coyote interactions.

If a human is attacked and physically injured by a coyote, the Community Services Department along with the Torrance Police Department will work with the California 20 17

Department of Fish and Wildlife to thoroughly investigate the incident, identify and humanely capture coyotes in the geographic area. Humane capture will also be considered if there is a public safety issue (such as a coyote(s) threatening people or resting in an area frequented by people, such as a yard, park, playground, school, etc.).

Torrance Animal Control and/or the Torrance Police Department will respond to calls that involve a sick or injured coyote(s) or if there is a public safety issue, such as a coyote(s) threatening people or resting in an area frequented by people, such as a yard, park, playground, school, etc.

Incident Defined
An incident is described as a conflict between a human and a coyote where the coyote exhibits the following behavior: coyote approaches a human and growls, bares teeth, or lunges; injures or kills an escorted/on-leash pet. This includes if an attended pet is attacked, but not human injury.

When human injury occurs, it is defined as an “attack. ” The California Department of Fish and Game will investigate the incident if a human is physically injured.

City Response:

 If an attack is unprovoked and there exists a continued threat to human safety, the City will trap and euthanize coyotes in the geographical area.

 In a provoked attack, the City may nonetheless trap and euthanize coyotes in the geographical area.

 If snares are determined to be necessary, the City will coordinate with abatement services and advise them on location, duration, and details of trapping attempts.

 If there is immediate danger that requires shooting, the Torrance Police Department will respond. No private individual is authorized to discharge a firearm within the City of Torrance, according to County and City Municipal Code.

 If a coyote is lethally removed, the Community Services Department will evaluate and determine what educational measures and hazing techniques need to be modified in order to decrease any reoccurrence.

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Tiered City Response

Level Green:

Behavior – A coyote is seen or heard in an area. Sighting may be during the day or night.

Coyote may be seen moving through the area.

 Response – Education and hazing needed.

Level Yellow:

Behavior – A coyote appears to frequently associate with humans or human related food sources, and exhibits little wariness of human presence. Coyote is seen during the day resting or continuously moving through an area frequented by people.

 Response – Education and aggressive hazing needed, volunteer hazing team created, and yard audits by homeowners or other authorized persons.  Response – Lethal removal may be considered if the City determines there is a public safety issue.

Level Orange:

Behavior – A coyote is involved in an incident where there is an attended or unattended domestic animal loss; or a coyote biting, injuring, or killing an unattended pet or a pet on a leash of more than 6 feet. Several level orange incidents in the same general area may indicate the presence of a habituated coyote(s).

 Response – Education and aggressive hazing needed and public awareness of incident(s) and circumstances discussed. If multiple level orange incidents have occurred in the same vicinity within a short amount of time, lethal removal will be conducted if the area is conducive to trapping.

Level Red:

Behavior – A coyote has been documented in either a provoked or unprovoked close encounter or attack on humans; including biting, injuring, or killing an attended pet in an enclosed yard or a pet on a leash of 6 feet or less.

Response – The Community Services Department will contract an abatement services vendor to conduct trapping services as long as the area is conducive to trapping and legally allowed. The Community Services Department may work with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for any other lethal removal of the coyote(s). 22 19

Coyote Abatement
Torrance City Council approved a coyote abatement program in 2019. Active trapping takes place year-round within City boundaries. The trapping program complies with applicable state and county regulations.

Considerations
Relocating Wildlife
In cases where problems with wildlife are associated with human behavior (leaving garbage exposed or intentional wildlife feeding), ordinances and enforcement may be enacted to minimize conflict. In some cases, traditional management tools are ineffective. For example, relocation of animals is not ecologically sound and is illegal in California without permission from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Generally, relocated animals do not survive the transfer. If they do, they rarely stay in the relocation area and tend to scatter to other locations where they may cause problems and be involved in territory disputes or introduce disease. In some instances, the dispersed wildlife, especially coyotes, will go to great lengths to return to their previous territory and may adversely affect residents. For these reasons, CDFW rarely allows relocation of wildlife.
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Appendix A
Definitions
Active coexistence: Humans and coyotes exist together. Communities decide on community spaces, such as open spaces, where coyotes are appropriate, and do not haze, feed, or interact with them in these areas. Humans take an active role in keeping coyotes wild by learning about coyote ecology and behavior, removing attractants, taking responsibility for pet safety, and hazing coyotes in neighborhood or community spaces (except for predetermined coyote appropriate areas).

Attack: A human is injured or killed by a coyote.

Provoked - A human-provoked attack or incident where the human involved actively or passively encourages the coyote to engage. Examples include dog off-leash in an on-leash area; dog on leash longer than 6 feet in length; or a human intentionally approaches or feeds a coyote.

Unprovoked - An unprovoked attack or incident where the human involved does not encourage the coyote to engage.

Pet Attack:

Attended animal loss or injury - When a pet is attached or injured by a coyote even though a person is within 6 feet of it and on a leash.

Domestic animal loss or injury – When a coyote injures or kills a pet or animal that is unattended, or is a free-roaming animal. This includes “depredation” - predation on domestic pets. Free-roaming animal loss or injury is normal behavior for a coyote.

Encounter: An unexpected, direct meeting between a human and coyote that is without incident.

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Feeding:

Intentional feeding - A resident or business actively and/or intentionally feeds coyotes, including intentionally providing food for wild animals included in the coyote’s food chain.

Unintentional feeding - A resident or business unintentionally provides coyotes access to food. Examples include leaving accessible compost outdoors, leaving fallen fruit or produce from trees and vegetation, leȅ open sheds and doors, and pet food leȅ outdoors.

Unintentional feeding – bird feeders: A resident or business with bird feeders that may provide food for birds, squirrels, or other small creatures.

Bird feeders must be kept high enough from the ground so a coyote is unable to reach the feeding animals. The area under the bird feeder must be kept clean and free of residual feed.

Hazing: Physical actions meant for immediate use as deterrents to move an animal out of an area or discourage an undesirable behavior or activity. Hazing techniques include loud noises, shouting, spraying water, bright lights, and throwing objects.

Hazing can help maintain a coyote’s fear of humans and deter them from neighborhood spaces such as backyards and play spaces. Hazing does not damage animals, humans, or property.

Threat Incident: A conflict between a human and a coyote where the coyote exhibits the following behavior: approaches a human and growls, bares teeth, or lunges; injures or kills an attended domestic animal. A human is not injured.

Stalking Incident: A conflict between a human and a coyote where the coyote exhibits the following behavior: follows a person who may or may not have an attended pet on leash. A human is not injured.

Observation: The act of noticing or taking note of tracks, scat, or vocalizations.

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Sighting: A visual observation of a coyote(s). A sighting may occur at any time of the day or night.

Unsecured Trash: Trash that is accessible to wildlife, e.g. individual garbage cans or bags, uncovered or open dumpsters, trash cans over-flowing, or where trash scattered is outside the receptacle.

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Appendix B
Overview of Hazing
Human actions can shape animal behavior, both in a negative or positive manner.

Actions such as removing coyote attractants, understanding and identifying potentially dangerous situations for pets and themselves, and responding with hazing intent are all positive behavioral choices designed to change and shape coyote behavior.

Hazing is a process whereby individuals and volunteers make actions to make a coyote uncomfortable and choose to leave the environment where their presence is unwanted.

Basic hazing consists of standing your ground, never ignoring or turning your back to a coyote, yelling and making unpleasant, frightening noises until the animal(s) leave.

More aggressive hazing consists of approaching an animal quickly and aggressively, throwing projectiles, and spraying with a hose or water gun, all of which are used for creating fear of contact so the animal leaves the situation.

Hazing must continue once it begins until the animal leaves, otherwise, the coyote will learn to “wait” until the person gives up. Not following through with hazing will create an animal more resistant to hazing instead of reinforcing the image that “people are scary. ”

Hazing should never injure the animal. An injured animal becomes less predictable, whereas a normal, healthy one responds to hazing in a consistent and predictable manner.

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Hazing should be conducted in a manner that allows the coyote to return to its normal habitat in a direction that would minimize harm to the animal. Hazing the animal in the direction of other houses and busy streets should be avoided.

Hazing uses a variety of different hazing tools. This is critical as coyotes can become accustomed to individual items and sounds.
 Noisemaker: Voice, whistles, air horns, bells, “shaker” cans, pots, pie pans  Projectiles: sticks, small rocks, cans, tennis balls, rubber balls  Deterrents: hoses, spray bottles with vinegar, pepper spray, bear repellant, walking sticks
A common concern with hazing involves potential danger to the hazer. A coyote’s basic nature is very skittish and the nature of the species is what makes this technique successful. A normal, healthy coyote will not escalate a situation with an aggressive person. Hazing is NOT successful with every species of wild animal because different types of animals have different traits

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Appendix C
At-Home Coyote Prevention Checklist

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