Full Notification

October 24, 2013

Dear Seal Beach Resident,

The Seal Beach Police Department and Long Beach Animal Care Services have recently received reports of coyote sightings and attacks on animals in various areas of Seal Beach.

In response to this, the Seal Beach Police Department, City Staff, Long Beach Animal Care Services, and Department of Fish and Wildlife would like to welcome the public to join in a coyote awareness meeting. This meeting will address the “What to know?” and how to deal with urban coyotes. The meeting will be held in City Council Chambers, 211 8th Street, Seal Beach, on Monday, November 4th, 2013, at 7:00 PM. We welcome all community members and friends to be part of this and wish to work together on future responses to this issue. Collaboration between animal experts and the community will enhance the safety of pets and wildlife in the area.

The following basic steps are recommended to avoid having problems with coyotes:

• Never feed or attempt to get close to a coyote. People should never try to get close to a coyote.

• Keep pets under control, and be sure not to leave them out at night or unattended. Coyotes may kill or injure a pet, especially small dogs and cats. Walk your dog on a leash and accompany your pet outside, especially at night.

• Control other sources of food that may attract a coyote: Keep your trash secure and keep dog and cat food bowls inside. Coyotes that rely on wild food sources remain wild and wary of people;

• Coyotes like areas where they can hide, yet still be near food. You can help by thinning brushy areas in your yard and closing off crawl spaces. Coyotes may use areas under buildings for resting or raising young; and

• If others in your neighborhood are attracting coyotes, tell them about the hazards posed by coyotes and ask them to take the measures recommended above.

• Call 9-1-1 in the event of an imminent threat or danger posed by an animal.

For additional information regarding urban coyotes, please contact Long Beach Animal Care Services at (562) 570-7387 or report coyote sightings online on their website at: http://longbeach.gov/acs/wildlife/report/default.asp