Pasadena Humane Offers Workshop On Peacefully Coexisting With Urban Coyotes

Pasadena Humane will host an interactive workshop next week focused on teaching residents how to safely coexist with local coyote populations. The educational event on Saturday, March 22, from 11 a.m. to noon, will feature wildlife experts demonstrating humane techniques to keep families and pets safe. 

The workshop comes as part of the organization’s broader efforts to educate community members about urban wildlife management. Wildlife staff will share information on coyote behavior and natural history while demonstrating effective hazing techniques to prevent negative encounters. 

“Coyotes are native wildlife and are free to roam as determined under the jurisdiction of the Department of Fish and Wildlife; they are a normal and valuable part of the urban ecosystem,” Pasadena Humane says on their “Living With Coyotes” webpage. 

The organization emphasizes that coyotes provide ecological benefits including rodent control and carrion removal. Having evolved in the American Southwest, coyotes have adapted to urban environments over thousands of years, primarily feeding on small mammals, carrion, birds, and plant materials. 

Wildlife experts recommend specific preventative measures to avoid coyote conflicts near residential areas. These include keeping cats indoors, supervising small dogs outside, removing outdoor pet food, securing garbage in sturdy containers, and eliminating access to water sources on private property. 

“Since coyotes’ natural instinct is to fear people, they are unlikely to approach or harm us,” Pasadena Humane said. “However, intentional or unintentional feeding can alter their natural behaviors, making them more comfortable around humans, and lead to bolder, potentially aggressive behavior.” 

The organization advises specific techniques when encountering coyotes, including maintaining eye contact, making oneself appear large, creating loud noises, and never turning one’s back or running away. They also recommend walking pets on leashes shorter than six feet and avoiding dawn or dusk walks.

Aside from workshops, Pasadena Humane offers other community services related to wildlife management, including neighborhood presentations, humane wildlife exclusion services, and assistance with sick or injured wildlife. The coyote safety workshop is open to adults and families with children 10 and older. 

To register for the event, visit 

https://pasadenahumane.org/phs-event/coyote-safety-workshop-8/. 

Anyone experiencing wildlife conflicts are encouraged to contact Pasadena Humane’s wildlife helpline at (626) 344-1129. 

The organization emphasizes that peaceful coexistence with coyotes requires community-wide effort and education.