ANIMAL & INSECT CONTROL

As new development encroaches into wildlife habitat and prolonged severe drought conditions become more prevalent, interactions with displaced wildlife, including coyotes, looking for food and water will become more frequent.  To provide residents with educational resources and preventative practices to minimize interactions, the City has prepared a Coyote Management and Co-Existence Plan to serve as the basis for community education and outreach.

The Coyote Management and Co-Existence Plan (Coyote Plan) is based on scientific research, a thorough understanding of coyote ecology and biology in suburban settings, and the best known management practices and management tools. This plan is guided by the following basic principles:

• Human safety is a priority in managing human-coyote interactions.
• Coyotes serve an important role in ecosystems by helping to control the population of rodents, rabbits, and other suburban mammals.
• Preventive practices such as reduction and removal of food attractants and responding appropriately when interacting with wildlife are key to minimizing potential interactions with coyotes.
• The Coyote Plan focuses on educating residents in effectively preventing and solving conflicts among coyotes, people, and companion animals. 

This Coyote Plan references several existing plans that sourced scientific and peer-reviewed articles from experts in the field of human-coyote conflict resolution, and from successful coyote management plans in neighboring foothill communities. This plan was also written in consultation with key staff throughout the City, including staff from the Public Works, Police, and Administration Departments; all of whom have responded to resident concerns.

Coyotes can be attracted into neighborhoods by human-associated food. Intentional and unintentional feeding can lead coyotes to associate humans with sources of food, which can result in negative interactions among coyotes, people and pets. To reduce food attractants in San Fernando:

• Never hand-feed or otherwise deliberately feed a coyote. It is unlawful to feed coyotes in San Fernando.
• Avoid feeding pets outside. Remove sources of pet food an water. If feeding pets outside is necessary, remove the bowl and any leftover food promptly.
• Do not feed feral cats. While residents who feed feral cats are often concerned that coyotes might prey on the cats, the act of feeding feral cats may cause more harm than good, as coyotes often frequent these locations. Residents should not feed feral cats to avoid attracting coyotes.

Cities may provide a year-round supply of water in the form of storm water impoundments and channels (the Pacoima Wash), irrigation, pet water dishes, etc., which support both coyotes and their prey. In dry conditions, water can be as alluring as food, so residents should remove outdoor water bowls/cans, and secure fountains, pools, and jacuzzis.

Maintain good housekeeping, such as regularly cleaning bird feeders and fallen seed to reduce the presence of small animals and  raking areas around bird feeders to help discourage coyote activity near residences.

Keep trash in containers. Promptly remove trash containers on pick-up day only. Bag especially attractive food wastes such as meat scraps or leftover pet food. Periodically clean cans to reduce odors. 

Clean-up and remove fallen fruit around trees, which can attract small animals and coyotes.

Clean-up food around BBQ grills after each use.

Don’t include meat or dairy in compost unless the area is fully enclosed.

Fences can be sued to keep coyotes out of residential yards. Ensure that there are no gaps at the bottom of the fence. A mesh apron may deter coyotes from digging underneath.

Parks, greenbelts, open spaces, golf courses, buildings, sheds, decks and crawl spaces, etc., increase the amount of 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 young, they concentrate their activities 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.

Trim vegetation and restrict access under decks and sheds, around wood piles, or other structures to reduce hiding places for rodents, coyotes and potential denning sites.

Pets are common in San Fernando. Within their territory, coyotes may consider pets as potential prey or potential competitors. The following techniquest are recommended for pet owners:

• Free-roaming pets, especially cats and sometimes small dogs, may attract coyotes into neighborhoods. The best way to minimize risk to pets is to not leave them outside unattended.
• Coyotes primarily eat small mammals such as mice and rats, but will also prey on slightly larger mammals such as rabbits and groundhogs. Approximately the same size as a groundhog or rabbit, free-roaming outdoor cats may also be seen as eligible prey items by coyotes. It is important to note that attacks on cats are normal coyote behavior and do not indicate a danger for people. The only way to protect cats from coyotes (and the other dangers of outdoor life such as cars, disease, dogs and other wildlife) is to keep cats 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). 
• Dogs are also vulnerable to coyote confrontations. These incidents generally involve coyotes who are accustomed or habituated to people (usually due to wildlife feeding), or coyotes who are protecting their territory and pups (usually during breeding season – January through March). Small unattended dogs may be seen as potential prey for coyotes. It is important to either keep dogs on a leash six-feet long or shorter when outdoors or to stay within six feel of them when outside. Attacks on unattended, small dogs are normal coyote behavior and do not indicate a danger for people. Although attacks on larger dogs are rarer, coyotes will sometimes go after a large dog when they feel that their territory is threatened. 
• Other domestic animals kept outside, such as chickens and rabbits, may also be viewed as prey by coyotes.

Generally, coyotes are reclusive animals who avoid human contact. When coyotes lose their fear of humans, they may visit public areas even when people are present an may cause conflicts with people and pets. Humans have contributed to this habituation of coyotes by not reacting when they see a coyote. We have a tendency to either ignore them due to fear or to be enamored by them because they are wild animals. To coexist safely, it is important to modify this behavior and attitude in resident coyote populations.

Hazing is an activity or series of activities that is conducted in an attempt to change behaviors of habituated coyotes and/or to re-instill a healthy fear of people in the local coyote population. Hazing techniques include generating loud noises, spraying water, shining bright lights, throwing objects, shouting, etc. Hazing can help maintain a coyote’s fear of humans and deter them from neighborhood spaces such as backyards, greenbelts, and play spaces.

A hazing program encourages the use of harassing actions without employing weapons or causing bodily harm to the coyote. The more often an individual animal is hazed, the more effective hazing is in changing coyote behavior. Being highly intelligent animals, coyotes who are hazed quickly learn to avoid neighborhoods, people, and pets.

The goals of hazing are to:

• Reverse the habituation of coyotes to people, teaching them to once again fear and avoid humans.
• Discourage coyotes from entering public areas such as parks, playgrounds, and yards when people are present.
• Discourage coyotes from approaching people and pets.
• Empower residents by giving them tools to use when they encounter a coyote, thereby reducing their fear of coyotes.
• Increase awareness about coyote behavior among residents and involve the community in coyote management efforts.

BASIC HAZING TECHNIQUES

• Stand tall, make yourself big, wave your arms and shout (don’t scream) while approaching the coyote until he/she runs away.
• Use a noisemaker, such as: your voice, an air horn, pots and pans banged together, a whistle, a shake can (such as a soda can filled with coins or pebbles), jingling keys, or an umbrella popping open and closed.
• Use a projectile (toward, not AT the coyote), such as: sticks, clumps of dirt, small rocks, a tennis ball.
• During warm months, use liquids, such as: a garden hose, a water gun, water balloons.

NOTE: If a coyote has never been hazed before, he/she may not run away immediately just by you vocalizing. You may need to approach the coyote while incorporating some of the above-mentioned deterrents. If the coyote runs a short distance, stops, and turns to look at you, continue to haze the coyote until he/she has completely left the area. 

A critical element of a successful coyote management plan is the education and awareness for residents. Education is the key to having residents make appropriate decisions regarding their safety and managing their property and pets. This involves all of the above tips for living with coyotes. 

For residents’ convenience, the City has prepared a Yard Audit Checklist that may be downloaded and printed: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

No access to a printer? Call or email the Administration Department and one will be mailed to you:

(818) 898-1202 | Info@sfcity.org

Mosquitoes are the most dangerous creature in the world. They kill over one million people worldwide each year because they can transmit debilitating, or sometimes deadly viruses like Malaria, West Nile virus, and dengue with just a bite. All Los Angeles County residents play an essential role in protecting their community. Mosquito control is a shared responsibility; residents can take simple steps to reduce them in their neighborhood. Here’s how to reduce the risk of mosquito-transmitted diseases and prevent mosquito breeding in and around your home. 

Do-It-Yourself Solutions  

Mosquitoes can lay eggs in the smallest places – even a bottle cap! Limiting the number of potential sources is the best method to reduce breeding on your property. Inspect around and inside your home for anything that can hold water such as vases, buckets, plant saucers, old tires, a fountain, an unmaintained swimming pool, yard drains, and even in the leaves of plants. Eliminate any stagnant water and remove the source. If the source cannot be removed, check weekly for standing water to prevent mosquito breeding. Remember to look for mosquito sources every week and after rain events. Download the DIY checklist by visiting bit.ly/diy-mosquito-solutions. 

Harvest Water, Not Mosquitoes 

If residents need to store water in rain barrels, buckets, or other similar containers for longer than a week, these steps should be taken to ensure they are mosquito-proof: 

• Cover all water-filled containers with tightly fitted lids. 
• Screen all openings (overflows, gaps in the lid), including roof and floor gutters, with a 1/16-inch fine mesh to keep mosquitoes out.   
• Use collected water right away and empty rain barrels completely between rain events.   
• Use mosquito bits if you must keep stagnant water for over five days. 
• Learn more by going to bit.ly/Rain-Barrel-Upkeep. 

Repel, Don’t Swell 

Remember to wear insect repellent to protect your health. The CDC recommends using repellents with active ingredients such as DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. It is imperative to wear insect repellent when traveling abroad, especially when visiting subtropical and tropical regions. Visit bit.ly/repellent-information for more information.

Join Mosquito Watch 

Mosquito Watch is a neighborhood program designed to protect your community from mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases. With guidance from mosquito experts and your leadership, you can help mobilize your neighbors to act, and reduce mosquito breeding and disease transmission in your neighborhood. Visit bit.ly/Mosquito-Watch for additional information.  

Residents can also contact the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District at www.glamosquito.org for additional mosquito-related questions and resources. Follow @GLAmosquito on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.