WILDLIFE PROGRAM INFORMATION
Wild animals exist not only within the City of Los Angeles, but also in adjacent areas of the County and neighboring cities. Wildlife encompasses several species of animals including coyotes, foxes, opossums, raccoons, snakes, and predatory birds. As housing further encroaches into the hills, the interaction between wildlife and residents grows more frequent.  The Los Angeles Department of Animal Services has a Wildlife Division to aid residents in rectifying problems and some of the uneasiness that many people may face with wildlife. This program allows for a Department representative to provide on-site evaluations, education on methods of exclusion, deterrents and discouragement of wildlife forays into our city neighborhoods. It is not the intention of the Department of Animal Services to remove wildlife from residential areas. Rather, the ultimate goal of the Department to educate the public and foster a relationship between wildlife and the community, in which the two can live together and coexist in peace. This is a multi-tiered program designed to help neighborhoods better deal with wildlife issues, and further lessen contact with these animals by investigating changes in both human and wildlife behavior.

Excellent Information About Wildlife from the California Department of Fish and Game

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The Genesis of the Department’s Original Wildlife Program

Prior to 1994, the Department of Animal Services responded to complaints about coyotes and other animals by routinely trapping them. In many cases, trapping led to euthanasia. The focus at that time was simply to remove animals. Trapping wildlife is
reactive approach, essentially only a band-aid on the problem. The nuisance animal might not be the one captured, or may not have been the only culprit, and the hence the trapping does not prevent the perceived nuisances or problems from repeating. The removal of coyotes and other wildlife animals temporarily resolved problems, but failed to address the real issues. Due to changes in thinking within and outside the Department, studies in behavior, and new laws pertaining to trapping, the practice of trapping by the Department was stopped.

In spite of the destruction of large numbers of wild animals throughout the United States, the problem remains today, and in many instances has worsened dramatically. After speaking with many experts, we discovered some of the reasons why. The source of the problem is not the presence of wildlife, but the environment that humans provide for them just by the simple manner in how we are the provider of food, water, and cover for them. Many people are encouraging wild animals to live near their homes inadvertently or by design by maintaining pet food outdoors at all times even when pets were inside, not picking up fallen fruit from trees which attracts most mammals and rodents, having wood piles and dense vegetation which harbor hiding places for wildlife, feeding wildlife causing the animals to return and become habituated to the location, or having neighbors feeding feral cat colonies or wildlife.  Residents who experienced pet loss in many cases were fully aware of the presence of dangerous predators, yet still left their small pets outdoors in poorly enclosed yards. Unfortunately, urban sprawl is something that remains a constant. If we are going to push further and further into the habitat of wild animals, we need to be responsible for our behavior. Change in wildlife behavior through negative interactions with humans by using deterrents is one way to alter the types of encounters we have with them. In many cases, this will teach further generations to avoid habitats where deterrent measures have been implemented. The opposite is also true as well; if we do nothing and allow things to remain unchecked, then the wildlife behavior remains the same.
 
Department Function & Policy

The City of Los Angeles does not own or have any control of wild animals found within its boundaries, nor is the City responsible for the actions or damage caused by them. There are no laws, policies, or mandates requiring the Department to remove problem wildlife. These animals are a common and important, integral parts of our ecosystem, biosphere and the circle of life. The Department of Animal Services was originally created to deal with problems arising from stray dogs and to enforce laws pertaining to them. Wildlife, to a small degree, has been included in the scope of the services that the Department provides as need has arisen due to encroachment on wild habitat which has resulted in wild animals being involved in distress situations in which they required rescue. Awareness through education is key in resolving conflicts with wildlife.

The following Q&A section was designed to help with many common myths and facts regarding natural history of predatory urban wildlife.

What is the function of predatory wildlife, what are they good for?
Why can’t predatory wildlife be trapped and relocated to another area or the forest?
Why can’t we create watering holes for wild predators so they will return or stay in their normal environment?
I am worried about my children; do predators such as bobcats, coyotes, foxes, and mountain lions attack, injure or kill people?
I am worried for the safety of my pets, how can I protect them?
I know someone that puts out food for wildlife, is that all right?
We’ve always had wildlife around here, why are the coyotes and other wild animals acting differently now?

Q: What is the function of predatory wildlife, what are they good for?
A: Many Environmentalists firmly believe that predatory wildlife exists to preserve the balance of nature. Bears, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, mountain lions, opossums, raccoons and skunks are some of the most successful species on the planet. These animals are classified as Carnivores and Omnivores; they will eat just about anything, and to some degree they do help keep rodent and insect populations in check. In some areas around the United States where there has been attempts to eradicate wild predators, there has been increases in rodent vermin and related disease. The circle of life can seem cruel by human standards, but many prey and rodent species would overrun urban areas, damaging crops and vegetation if the populations of predator species did not keep them in check. It is also predatory wildlife, which serves as nature’s vacuum since they eat dead rodents around our homes as well.

Q: Why can’t predatory wildlife be trapped and relocated to another area or the forest?
A: The California Department of Fish and Game, the United States Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the National Park Services Department prohibit the relocation of most predatory wildlife. Some wild animals are considered to be vermin by Agriculture Departments throughout the United States. Sadly, euthanasia has been something many local animal authority agencies have had to use for lack of a better system. There are several reasons why relocation has not been a viable alternative; a problem predator that is relocated into another community will continue with the same behavior. Another problem is if you take that urban wild animal and move it to the “forest” or what may be deemed a truly wild area far from a community, it would most likely be attacked and injured if not killed by other predators, which may have already established territory. A wild animal that lives within the boundaries of a city and lived its life mainly as a scavenger may not have honed it’s hunting skills well enough, and therefore, will die as it was used to more opportunistic foraging of outdoor pet food, water, rodents, back yard fruit and vegetables, trash, etc. Vector disease is another factor. Wild predators in urban settings may have been exposed to diseases associated with domestic pets, which could be transmitted to other wildlife that normally never would have been exposed. Trapping and removing animals has done nothing to correct the human equation. The cycle will repeat itself as long as people fail to change their own habits. Trapping is an indiscriminate process and we may catch any animal or we may even be removing an animal that has never participated in any of the negative behaviors you are experiencing. The possibility also exists that you may catch a parent animal foraging for food that has immature young that will now die a cruel and lingering death by exposure and starvation. The belief that removing the animal from its territory will solve the problem, is like believing that no one will move into your home if you moved out.
The Department has discontinued the trapping of wildlife within the City of Los Angeles. It is your right as a citizen to contact a pest control company that has permits to remove wild mammals. The wildlife trapped by pest control companies would be euthanized, as State law prohibits the relocation of predatory mammals. The Department of Animal Services is not giving permits for the public to use their own, rented, or borrowed traps. The Wildlife Division recommends the use of deterrents, exclusionary methods, and adjustments around the exterior of your home to make it less inviting to wildlife. If you are having a problem with wildlife making forays into your property, you may contact the Department’s Wildlife Division for further advice.

Q: Why can’t we create watering holes for wild predators so they will return or stay in their normal environment?
A: The majority of the wildlife you see in your neighborhood was born nearby. No amount of water would cause an urban predator to stay in one place. The water would certainly benefit the wildlife, but they would still venture to find food. Some studies have shown the use of water “Guzzlers” that have been instituted in arid regions have been helpful in supporting wildlife, but in the urban setting it is not much help. An ambitious water source program provided better management of water guzzlers in Southern California for quail and larger animals between the 1940s and 1960s. The California Department of Fish and Game constructed 2,000 artificial water sources in the state. Unfortunately, over time, the locations of these guzzlers had been lost due to decay, budget cuts, and personnel changes. Some other studies show that the use of drinkers and guzzlers may create a situation where predatory wildlife would learn to lay in wait for prey species visiting the man-made water source, which again, upsets nature’s delicate balance.

Q: I am worried about my children; do predators such as bobcats, coyotes, foxes, and mountain lions attack, injure or kill people?
A: Can it happen? Yes. What are the chances? Wild animal attacks on people are extremely rare. There is an estimate from the Department of Fish and Game that 1 to 2 people per year are injured due to a coyote. In Southern California from 1978 to 2003, it is estimated from reports that there has been 89 coyote attacks on people, with 56 of these coyote attacks resulting in injury. Many of have been linked to feeding, defending a family pet, or attempting to touch a coyote. There is 1 human fatality caused by a coyote in Glendale, occurring in 1981, which was linked to direct feeding of the animal. In California, from 1890 through 2006, there were 13 verified Mountain lion attacks on people, 6 of those attacks resulted in human deaths. Bobcat, Fox, Raccoon, Skunk, and Opossum attacks are virtually unknown, with bites usually being incidental as a result someone attempting to handle the animal. Many people worry about coyotes causing the death of a human. Yet, there are over 300 people that have been killed by domestic dogs in the U.S. between the 1970s and the late 1990s. In the United States, there are approximately 3 to 5 million people that are attacked by dogs every year, with 20 deaths on average per year. A child is more likely to get hurt by a domestic dog than by a coyote. This means that your family dog or your neighbor's dog is ten times more likely to kill someone than a mountain lion, and hundreds of times more likely than a coyote. Most attacks occur when wild animals lose their fear of humans, often because people are feeding or encouraging them. Statistically, the chances of wildlife attacks on humans causing fatality are low when compared to the 43,000 people killed by auto accidents, 13,000 people killed by falls, and on the obscure side, 13 people that are killed by vending machine's falling on them every year. Practice animal safety at all times. Show children how to react when in the presence of any animal. If you are not sure of what the appropriate response is to the appearance of a particular wild animal, you may contact the Department’s Wildlife Division or the Department of Fish & Game for further advice.

Q: I am worried for the safety of my pets, how can I protect them?
A: Bears, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, and mountain lions are the animals that most people worry about for their pets. The main concern of the aforementioned animals would be the coyote. Wild animals are opportunistic, and coyotes fit this mold very well. Coyote attacks tend to be on pets that are less than 20 pounds, and more often on pets less than 10 pounds. Always walk your dog on a leash at all times and stay close to high pedestrian traffic areas. Try not to establish a regular routine and route to avoid setting up a pattern for the coyote to detect. Avoid bushy areas or paths near abandoned properties. If you notice a coyote when walking your dog, keep your dog as close to you as possible and move towards an active area. Never let that coyote go by without scaring it. Carry something with you to scare wildlife away such as an air horn, walking stick, umbrella, and something to throw such as baseballs or golf balls. Never encourage or allow your pet to interact or “play” with coyotes. If you are seeing these animals around your home, make sure that your fence is in a good condition. Do not leave pets unattended outdoors if possible. If your cat or dog must be outside, consider constructing an outdoor 6-sided enclosure that is made of heavy gauge wire or chain-link with an enclosed access way to the house. Remove food sources such as fallen fruit and food refuse. Remove pet food when your pet is not outside. Small mammals such as opossums, raccoons, and skunks are not usually a threat for domestic pets. Quite often, it is the other way around as they are victims of dog attacks. For further information contact the Department’s Wildlife Division for a brochure about specific wildlife.

Q: I know someone that puts out food for wildlife, is that all right?
A: No, as a matter of fact it is against the law. Deliberately feeding wild predators puts you, your pets, and your neighbors at risk. Observing wild animals is one of the many benefits of living in or near wildlife habitat. The experience can turn unpleasant or even dangerous, however, when well-meaning people feed wildlife. When people feed predatory animals, they can become unnaturally bold, and this usually results in conflict that often ends in serious harm, or even death to the animal or in some rare cases to a person. One example is people that throw food to wild animals from their automobiles. This trains the animals to stay close to the road where the wildlife is often killed or seriously wounded. There are coyotes that have been observed begging for food in some areas as a result of feeding too. In cases where a person holds out the food to a coyote then withholds it in order to draw them closer or tries to play keep away, the wild animal often becomes “Food Aggressive” and nips at the person to get them to release the food item. Coyotes for example, may dance about and look playful prior to this happening, giving the impression that it is friendly. However, it is only a matter of time before feeding them does more harm than good. Wild animals that associate people as a provider of food invariably end up having to be destroyed for displaying aggressive behavior.

Q: We’ve always had wildlife around here, why are the coyotes and other wild animals acting differently now?
A: You are not alone in your concern about the presence of predatory wildlife in your neighborhoods. Predators such as coyotes have adapted to human presence and behavior. We as humans go for walks or hikes in parks, recreation areas, and mountain ranges. We see coyotes and they see us. The reaction when most of us see predatory wildlife is to take no action at all or run away. The coyotes have no reason to fear human presence and therefore, become bolder in behavior. Homes are being built further into natural habitat, and certain types of landscaping make it more inviting to these animals. If we do not change our ways, the behavior will continue. Progressive deterrent and exclusion measures should be used before problems start.