Cupertino — Residents told city and county presenters they feel "terrorized" after a recent run of bold coyote encounters, and experts urged coordinated community hazing, securing attractants, and reporting incidents to wildlife authorities.

At an evening public outreach session, Dr. Carolyn Weitzel of the University of California Cooperative Extension described coyote biology and management options, saying coyotes are "the ultimate opportunistic omnivore" that exploit fruit, bird seed, rodents and pet food. Weitzel stressed predictable spikes in conflict around denning and pup-dispersal seasons and advised residents to remove attractants, secure trash and pet food, and avoid known den routes when possible.

Why it matters: Residents described multiple pet attacks and rising daytime boldness that they say has made yards and streets unsafe. Officials said individual reports help direct limited California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) resources and recommended neighborhood-level, coordinated hazing to restore coyotes' fear of people.

Weitzel outlined hazing practices she recommends on private property — using a hose, yelling, banging pots and pans, air horns or throwing noninjurious objects — and cautioned that hazing works only if it is assertive and persistent. She also described physical-exclusion options ("Coyote Roller" on fence tops and buried skirting to block digging) and explained CDFW will only authorize lethal removal for animals deemed a public‑safety threat; removal is difficult, often temporary, and governed by city and county rules.

Residents gave detailed accounts of attacks. One attendee, Nasim, said she is "terrorized in my own home" after multiple coyotes lunged at and killed her 65‑pound rottweiler; other neighbors reported lost cats, vet bills in the thousands, and coyotes jumping fence tops.

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District wildlife ecologist Matt Cheney described a targeted hazing campaign at Windy Hill in which rangers and staff aggressively used air horns and directed hazing daily for about three weeks; he said the effort coincided with an end to aggressive behavior in that area and recommended organized, neighborhood hazing where safe and legal.

County Vector Control staff urged residents to report sightings and to request home inspections to identify attractants; they also provided materials on safe hazing techniques (Project Coyote pamphlets) and urged limiting rodenticide use, which Midpen staff said can debilitate coyotes and increase boldness.

What officials will do next: City staff collected contact information and said they will share county resources and follow up with residents; county representatives said vector control can provide inspections and that continued reporting to CDFW will help prioritize wildlife response.

The session closed with presenters reiterating safety steps: keep cats indoors or in secure catios, accompany small dogs on short leashes (avoid retractable leads), avoid running from coyotes, report attacks to 911 and CDFW, and consider coordinated neighborhood hazing programs where feasible.

The city did not take formal votes or issue new regulations at the meeting; staff offered to circulate written hazing guidance and resource links after follow-up with county partners.