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El Segundo launches volunteer "Wildlife Watch" training with California Fish and Wildlife
Summary
City and state staff highlighted a new volunteer-led wildlife watch program trained to conduct outreach, haze coyotes, and report wildlife incidents after a three-day training provided by California Fish and Wildlife.
Representatives from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife briefed the El Segundo City Council on a new Wildlife Watch volunteer program the department trained this spring. The three-day course covered the city's wildlife-management plan, coyote ecology and hazing techniques, canvassing and door-to-door outreach protocols, and on-the-ground fieldwork.
Captain Don Nelson of California Fish and Wildlife described the program and introduced lead trainer Janice Munson and Lieutenant Molesbury, who joined volunteers for field exercises. Janice Munson told council volunteers knocked on roughly 70 doors and conducted outreach near known coyote pathways as part of the hands-on training. The city's fire chief and volunteers were on hand as certificates were distributed to participants.
Council members asked whether residents should change how they respond to coyote sightings. The Fish and Wildlife captain advised residents to continue reporting sightings; volunteers and city staff will document incidents and provide guidance about hazing and neighborhood outreach. The program is intended to supplement city response by adding trained volunteers who can do outreach and education.
Why it matters
The volunteer teams are designed to give the city more capacity for public outreach and immediate neighborhood-level education when wildlife incidents occur. The training focuses on nonlethal hazing methods and resident guidance rather than capture or removal, and allied responsibilities remain with state and city wildlife authorities.
What happens next
Council members acknowledged certificates and asked staff to coordinate continued outreach. The volunteers are expected to work with city staff to document incidents and share outreach materials with residents in areas with known wildlife activity.
