The Seal Beach Police Department has received recent reports of increased coyote activity.
There have also been reports of increased coyote activity on local social media sites.
Last month, the head of Long Beach Animal Care Services confirmed that local coyote activity had increased. Coyote mating season is in January and February.
However, the Long Beach ACS Coyote Reporting App Viewer does not show much activity.
As of Monday, Dec. 11, only two October incidents of coyotes being suspected of killing small animals were reported in Seal Beach on the online map. Long Beach ACS has the contract to provide animal control services to Seal Beach.
The website is updated about once a month.
ACS Manager Ted Stevens said he would try to get the November data posted online in the next few days.
“We can only post what is reported to us, we do not have the ability to monitor all social media outlets, additionally they may not be as reliable a source,” Stevens said.
Seal Beach Assistant City Manager Patrick Gallegos raised a similar concern about social media.
“We want one set of data and that will be Long Beach Animal Care,” Gallegos said.
While he acknowledged coyote activity appeared to be increasing, Gallegos said it was not even close to what the city was facing in 2014.
“We really want to play it by the plan,” said Gallegos, referring to the city’s Coyote Management Plan. According to Gallegos, the Seal Bech plan is more aggressive than that of other communities.
However, as recently as February 2015, some Seal Beach residents were calling for reinstatement of a coyote trapping program and hiring a professional hunter.
The original coyote trapping program was highly controversial with advocates for wildlife in general as well as for coyotes and the Los Cerritos Wetlands.
According to Gallegos, coyotes are marking their territories.
The Seal Beach Police recently issued information about this coyotes to help residents and visitors understand the urban coyote. Police officials said they wanted to emphasize the importance of reporting coyote sightings using the online portal (http://www.longbeach.gov/acs/wildlife/coyote-report/).
Accurate and timely reporting of coyote sightings is the best way residents can assist us in addressing this issue and the appropriate course of action.
Seeing a coyote walking down a busy city street isn’t as uncommon as most would think, according to the police.
Recent coyote activity around Seal Beach and surrounding areas gives reason for reminding residents of important safeguards to protect pet lives and property against these wild animals.
Contrary to popular belief, coyotes do not require open space to survive, and have successfully adapted to living in close proximity to humans. Coyotes are most active at dusk and dawn, and in urban environments they are more active at night.
However, they can be seen at any time of day.
An animal control officer will respond to coyote calls if the coyote is sick or injured, out in the daytime in areas around people, especially children, such as parks or schools or anytime there is an attack or threatening behavior towards a person or pet.
According to the U.S. Humane Society, “Coyotes are found in every state of the nation, except for Hawaii. It is important to learn techniques to compassionately co-exist with coyotes and protect yourself and your pets.” The following techniques are recommended:
• Never feed coyotes or any other wildlife. “We still have people that feed wildlife,” Gallegos said.
• Keep pets, especially cats and small dogs, and pet food inside. If feeding outside, feed pets during the day (no more than one hour) and remove the food bowls when finished.
• Stay close to your pet when taking them outdoors and always keep them on a leash, especially from dusk through early morning hours.
• Remove fallen fruit from the ground.
• Bag food wastes such as meat scraps or leftover pet food.
• Keep trash in containers with tight-fitting lids.
• Use “hazing” techniques to shoo away coyotes, such as standing tall, yelling and waving arms while approaching the coyote; using a whistle, air horn, bell or other device; banging pots or pans together; stomping your feet; using a water hose, pepper spray, or throwing tennis balls or rocks at the coyote.
• Never run from a coyote.
For more detailed information you can visit: http://www.longbeach.gov/…/wildli…/living-with-urban-coyote.
Coyote activity may be reported online at http://www.longbeach.gov/acs/wildlife/coyote-report.
To read the Seal Beach Coyote Management Plan, visit http://www.sealbeachca.gov/Portals/0/Documents/Seal%20Beach%20Coyote%20Management%20Plan%20-%20Final.pdf.
If you need an Animal Control Officer to respond, please call Long Beach Animal Control Services at 562-570-7387. You can also email animalcare@longbeach.gov. If the coyote is posing an imminent threat to life, call 911.
