Encounters with coyotes are common in Yorba Linda due to our shared 19-mile northern wildlife interface with Chino Hills State Park and our southern boundary with the Santa Ana riverbed. Additionally, the City’s residential areas provide an abundance of water and food sources which encourage coyote habitation. Additionally, coyote sightings typically increase in the fall months during the dispersal season when young coyotes leave the family pack.
Typically, coyotes can coexist within the urban environment and will not affect our daily lives. The best way to minimize the nuisance and losses caused by urban coyotes is by being proactive in keeping coyotes at bay by following the helpful tips provided on the City’s Coyote Awareness webpage:
- Never feed coyotes. This practice encourages animals to associate all humans with food and lose their healthy fear of people. This is not in their best interest or ours;
- Keep pets indoors when you are not directly supervising them;
- Fully enclose all outdoor animal areas;
- Maintain your yard and home to prevent potential shelter space; and
- View the City's Coyote Management Plan (PDF).
The general policy of the City of Yorba Linda, Orange County Animal Care, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is not to trap coyotes, as killing or relocating urban coyotes has proven to be ineffective over the long term.
The City does monitor coyote activity via reports made directly from residents, but it does not monitor social media platforms for coyote sightings. To report a coyote sighting or incident, please submit a Report a Coyote Sighting Form online.