Coexisting with the urban coyote population is a challenge throughout much of the United States, and Whittier is no different. The experts tell us that coyotes are one of the most intelligent and adaptable animals in the world, with the ability to change their diets based on their environment and to breed in urban settings. Whittier’s wildlife interface with the surrounding open space, combined with large lots and natural waterways typically allows the coyote population to coexist with minimal impact on our residents. 

So, are coyotes a problem in Whittier? The best answer is that we have coyotes throughout the City and they are problematic for some homeowners, especially as they sometimes view small pets as prey. Residents should be mindful of the following recommendations: 

• Keep food, water and shelter sources out of your yards.
• Keep short landscape trimmed low and tall landscape trimmed high to discourage hiding and denning.
• Monitor and keep your small pets indoors or on a leash, unless they are in a fully enclosed kennel.
• Coyotes are very capable of clearing a 6-foot high fence, and have been known to climb 8 to 10 foot fences.
• Community hazing has proven to be an effective tool in retraining coyote behavior, by creating a negative association with human contact.

The Whittier City Council has approved the hiring of a part-time Wildlife Management Coordinator to monitor coyote activity, and to both assist and train residents on how best to address coyote concerns. And, the City is actively working with the California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) to educate the community on their Wildlife Watch program.

Interestingly, CDFW tell us that even if the majority of the current coyote population was removed, we would have an even larger coyote population within a couple of years to compete for the same food and shelter sources, which would likely have an increasingly negative impact on our community. Biologists believe that the urban coyote is here to stay and it is the City's goal to encourage coexistence through education.

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Additional Information

• Coyote Management Plan
• Living with Coyotes (PDF)
• Preventing Unwanted Wildlife Encounters (PDF)
• Coyote Activity Notice (PDF)
• Tips for Living with Coyotes (PDF)
• Habitat Authority - Living with Coyotes

“Living on the Urban Edge: The Coexistence of People and Wildlife”

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How to Manage Coyotes

• Coyote Keep Me Wild Brochure (CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife)

Report Coyote Activity

Please contact the City's Administrative Services Department at 562-567-9830 or whittierwm@cityofwhittier.org to report any coyote activity in your area.

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