Pasadena Public Health Department to Host Living with Coyotes Community Discussion on October 24

PASADENA, Calif. — The Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) will host Living with Coyotes: Reducing Conflicts with Our Wildlife Neighbors on Saturday, October 24, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Memorial Park Pavilion. The free community event will feature a panel of wildlife experts, a resource fair, and an opportunity for residents to ask questions about coyotes and learn practical ways to reduce human-coyote conflicts.

Over the past five years, the City of Pasadena has received growing community concerns about coyotes in neighborhoods throughout the city. In July 2023, the Pasadena City Council directed staff to take several actions to better understand Pasadena’s local coyote population, examine how current coyote research applies to the community, and provide residents with information and tools to help deter coyotes from entering their properties. One of those actions called for the City to convene a panel of coyote experts to strengthen the community’s understanding of effective approaches to reducing human-coyote conflicts. The community event builds on that effort by bringing wildlife experts and community members together for an educational discussion.

“This event is a great opportunity for our community to learn more about urban coyote behavior,” said Manuel Carmona, Director of Public Health. “Bringing residents and experts together allows us to have an informed conversation about community concerns and learn about practical approaches that can help reduce conflicts.”

The panel will include state wildlife officials, researchers, and coyote experts who will discuss urban coyote behavior, applicable state laws, reducing attractants, and strategies for preventing conflicts. Featured panelists include Alex Heeren, Ph.D., California Department of Fish and Wildlife; Rebecca Dmytryk, CEO of Humane Wildlife Control; Dana Stangel, founder of Teranga Ranch; and Ted Stankowich, Ph.D., professor at California State University, Long Beach.

“The goal of the event is to offer community members useful information and approaches they can apply in their own neighborhoods,” said Rachel Janbek, Environmental Health Division Manager, who manages the PPHD Animal Care and Control Program. “Residents will have the opportunity to learn what may attract coyotes to residential areas and explore ways to reduce the likelihood of conflicts. The resource fair will also provide attendees with educational materials and additional resources.”

The resource fair will feature representatives from local and state agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations. Community members will be able to learn more about coyotes, ask questions, and access resources related to wildlife and conflict prevention.

The event is free, but attendees are asked to complete an RSVP form. The RSVP form allows participants to submit questions in advance, which event staff will use to help guide the panel discussion. Registration is not required and attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and raise additional topics during a question-and-answer segment of the event.

The program is intended to advance the community conversation around reducing human-coyote conflicts, provide residents with practical tools for managing coyote interactions, and explore potential adjustments to current strategies.

The City of Pasadena encourages community members to:

• Practice consistent hazing when appropriate to discourage coyotes from becoming comfortable around people.
• Reduce access to food sources and trash that may attract coyotes to residential areas.
• Report individuals who may be feeding coyotes, whether intentionally or not, to Pasadena Humane at (626) 792-7151.
• Report coyote observations and concerns to the City Service Center by calling 311.

For more information about the event and to RSVP, visit the Living with Coyotes: Reducing Conflicts with Our Wildlife Neighbors Calendar Listing website.