As you may have heard, the City of Irvine has recently experienced highly-unusual coyote behavior, where four children have either been bitten or scratched in their local park or neighborhood. Coyote sightings in our City are very common, but engaging humans is extremely abnormal. Fortunately, none of these incidents resulted in serious injuries.
In the aftermath of the recent coyote incidents, IPD has exponentially increased our coyote patrols in the impacted areas, which are primarily in the Portola area of the City. These saturation patrols are being conducted by both Animal Services Officers and uniformed police officers. Our Animal Services Unit is comprised of specially-trained personnel who, in addition to other duties, proactively track coyote sightings and activity in the City. They are trained to recognize normal and abnormal wildlife behavior, and respond whenever we receive a call involving any wildlife safety threat.
We also maintain a partnership with California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), which has extensive expertise in the area of animal behavior and encounters. CDFW has been actively working in the affected area and notifying neighbors in-person and with flyers about the recent incidents.
IPD and the City of Irvine have focused for many years on community coyote education and awareness, and our City smartphone application, Access Irvine, has a button for residents to report coyote sightings. This button is rotated weekly with drowning prevention information throughout the summer. If you would like to report a coyote sighting without using the app, please call our dispatch center at 949-724-7200 or e-mail the location of the sighting to coyotesighting@cityofirvine.org.
To discourage coyotes from entering neighborhoods, it is important to avoid leaving food in easily-accessible places. Intentionally feeding coyotes is illegal in the State of California, but unintentionally feeding coyotes can also be avoided by removing pet food, water, fallen fruit, and open/uncovered trash from areas surrounding your home.
If you do encounter a coyote, you can dissuade them from approaching by “looking big” and “being loud.” If confronted by a coyote, energetically wave your arms, stomp your feet, and shout until the coyote is a comfortable distance away. It is also important to teach children never to approach a wild animal, and avoid wildlife areas where a protective mother coyote may be feeding or hiding pups.
If you have pets, please keep them indoors, especially after dark. On walks, please keep pets on a leash no longer than 6-feet and pick up small pets if you encounter a coyote.
Based on the recent work of IPD and our partners at CDFW, we are hopeful that we have seen the end of the aggressive, abnormal coyote behavior. If, however, you or your child are bitten or scratched by a coyote or any other wild animal, please call 911 so that we can provide immediate services.
Your safety, the safety of your children, and the safety of your pets is our top priority as your police department. Coyotes are a natural part of our wildlife community, and we are committed to continuing to work to ensure safe and healthy co-existence in our City.
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