What Long Beach residents should do now that it's coyote pup season

It’s that time of year when coyotes are giving birth to new pups, so Long Beach Animal Care Services officials are advising local humans to make sure their pets are safe.

Coyote sightings typically increase in spring and summer, Animal Care Services manager Ted Stevens said in an email.

“Spring time is when coyotes are raising their pups and they become more active,” Stevens wrote. “We wanted to get out ahead of things this year and start getting the word out now, so people can take steps to protect their pets.”

Long Beach officials developed a coyote management plan, released this past November, following elevated conces over coyote sightings in the city. The plan established a protocol that could lead to the animals being destroyed following an attack against a human or three “orange-level” incidents within a span of two weeks. The plan defines an orange-level incident as a coyote killing a pet, entering a yard or residence in the presence of humans or threatening people.

Animal Care Services recommends several actions to reduce the risks of coyotes harming pets or people:

• People should not feed coyotes or other wildlife. Residents can deny food to scrounging coyotes by picking up fallen fruit, bagging food waste before throwing it into the garbage and discarding trash in containers with tight-feeding lids. Animal care advises pet owners who feed their animals outdoors to limit feeding times to an hour during daylight and bringing food bowls inside after pets eat.

• Animal Care Services advises pet owners, especially those owning small dogs and cats, to keep their animals indoors. Animals taken outside should be kept on a leash, and owners should remain near their pets, especially during the times about sunrise and sunset.

• People confronted coyotes can use “hazing” tactics such as throwing balls or rocks at an animal, spraying coyotes with water or pepper spray, making loud noises or standing tall and waving one’s arms while yelling at a coyote in order to scare the animal away. It is not safe to run away from a coyote, according to Animal Care Services.

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