Coyote sightings increase in Costa Mesa; city offers tips on what to do

Costa Mesa officials are encouraging residents to take the time to learn how to keep themselves, and their furry friends, safe after a recent increase in coyote sightings.

There has been an uptick in the number of posts on social media from residents who have seen coyotes in Costa Mesa in recent weeks, said city spokesman Tony Dodero.

Most of the sightings don’t seem to have merited more than a social media post. Only one coyote — seen jumping a fence on March 23 — has been reported to the Costa Mesa Police Department recently, Lt. Victor Bakkila said Wednesday.

“I think they [residents] are taking heed and implementing the safety measures about coyotes we recommended a few years ago,” Bakkila said. “I think it’s really paid dividends for us.”

The Police Department has held town hall meetings and workshops aimed at educating residents about what to do should they encounter a coyote and how to keep their pets safe. The department also has sent out fliers, put up warning signs and posted information on the Internet.

Coyotes aren’t an uncommon sight in and around the Newport Beach-Costa Mesa area. On rare occasions, though, residents have reported coyotes showing threatening behavior or even attacking their pets.

Because of that, Dodero said, it’s important to know how to handle a run-in with a coyote and make it less likely that you’ll come across one.

Some tips from the city:

• Feed pets indoors and make sure garbage cans are secured.

• Keep yards clear of thick brush or weeds that can serve as shelter for coyotes.

• If you encounter a coyote, try to scare it away by making loud noises, waving your arms or spraying it with water.

• Watch cats and small dogs when they’re outside, even in a fenced yard.

“We’re putting that information out for residents so they know what they can do to be safe,” Dodero said.

For more information about coyotes, call Costa Mesa Animal Control at (714) 754-5311.