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Manhattan Beach police report rise in coyote sightings and urge residents to avoid attractants
Summary
Police Chief Rachel Johnson reported five confirmed coyote predation incidents, 21 unconfirmed presumptive predations and 128 sightings in the past 12 months. The department recommended hazing, trimming overgrowth and offered flyers and officer site visits; Fish and Wildlife limits trapping unless a human is attacked.
Manhattan Beach police briefed the council on an uptick in coyote activity on Aug. 19 and urged residents to limit attractants, trim overgrowth and use hazing to discourage coyotes from lingering.
Chief Rachel Johnson told the council the department logged five confirmed predations (cases where an animal was confirmed consumed), 21 unconfirmed predations and 128 total sightings in the previous 12 months. She said animal control and community services officers have been monitoring the animals and coordinating with the Village HOA and Westrift golf course to reduce overgrowth and potential food sources.
“From July of last year to July of this year, we’ve had five confirmed predations ... 21 unconfirmed ... and 128 sightings in the past 12‑month period,” Chief Johnson said.
Johnson said coyotes observed in the area include a female with two young pups and that patrols and hazing have shown the animals retreat when exposed to human deterrence. She credited work by animal control officers and asked residents to keep yards less hospitable to coyotes.
On the question of trapping, Johnson said the California Department of Fish and Wildlife typically will not authorize trapping unless a coyote attacks a human, and that trapped coyotes must be euthanized rather than relocated. “With trapping comes euthanasia,” she said; staff framed trapping and euthanasia as a last resort under state policy.
The police department will continue community outreach with printed flyers available at the chamber table and by request, one‑on‑one site visits by animal control officers and a Zoom meeting for the Village HOA to discuss next steps.
