Uptick of Coyote Sightings in Pasadena Neighborhoods Prompts Safety Workshop

A recent uptick in reports of coyote sightings and interactions is behind a planned 9 a.m. Saturday Coyote Safety Workshop to be led by Pasadena Humane’s Wildlife Manager at the Santa Catalina Branch Library, 999 E. Washington Blvd.

“We have seen a lot of the concerns about coyotes and wildlife safety on social media and organized this forum to help answer resident questions,” District 2 Councilmember Felicia Williams said. “All are welcome.”

At this in-person event, Lauren Hamlett is expected to share information about urban coyotes and demonstrate humane hazing techniques so people and pets can peacefully – and safely – coexist with coyotes.

Jack Hagerman, Vice President of Community Engagement at Pasadena Humane, said maintaining an aggressive posture and making loud noises, such as yelling, when encountering coyotes, are two of the best techniques to scare them away. He also recommended always to keep dogs on a six-foot leash because coyotes will not come within six feet of a human.

“The biggest thing is you want to make the coyote feel uncomfortable — so be aggressive in your posture, yell, or spray a hose, make loud noises or shake a can of pennies to scare the coyote away.” Hagerman said. “Make yourself big, wave your arms, throw tennis balls, [or] open and close an umbrella because visually that’s very startling for them. Never turn your back or run away if you encounter one; you want to walk away from them, not with your back turned.”

Another tip he shares about keeping coyotes away from your neighborhood is to avoid any kind of behavior that can change the way they naturally act. Making coyotes comfortable around humans could lead to them exhibiting bolder behavior, Hagerman said.

“It’s crucial to remove any potential food source from coyotes, and to inactively haze them whenever they are near your property,” he said. “So we tell people to do things like keep your cats indoors, especially at night, supervise small dogs outdoors and remove any outdoor pet food. We think it’s a better idea for you to feed your pets indoors just so that any leftover food is not enticing to wildlife.”

Hagerman also recommends removing any bird feeders you’ve set out because those also tend to draw a lot more wildlife that attracts coyotes.

This Coyote Safety Workshop on Saturday at Santa Catalina Branch Library begins at 9 a.m. The library is located at 999 E. Washington Blvd.