Wildlife and You
We are fortunate in our community that most of us live within walking distance of open space and nature trails. These areas provide beneficial opportunities for outdoor recreation and form the scenic backdrop of our community. They also provide crucial habitat for local wildlife. Similarly, our wildlife is often within walking distance of our homes and neighborhoods. For them, our developed areas may contain resources they find desirable, such as food, water, and shelter.
When humans and wildlife move about between open space and developed neighborhoods, interactions with wildlife are likely. Most human-wildlife interactions do not escalate to conflict, however, and it is possible to both reduce wildlife presence in a neighborhood and safely coexist with native wildlife. By nature, wild animals avoid people. Keeping them wild by discouraging their adaptation to people reduces conflicts.
Below are some recommendations for residents to reduce potential conflicts and links to additional information from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
- Don’t leave small children or pets outside unattended
- Don’t leave pet food outside and secure lids on trash receptacles
- Mind potential water sources and remove them if necessary
- Clean up fallen fruit and other potential food sources
- Keep landscaping pruned to reduce cover and shelter habitat
The links below provide detailed information on reducing human-wildlife conflicts for key species.
- CDFW Human-Wildlife Conflicts Program – Information about numerous species
- Keep Me Wild: Coyote
- Keep Me Wild: Bobcat
- Keep Me Wild: Mountain Lion
- Keep Me Wild: Rattle Snakes
- If you care, leave them there: Leaving young wildlife alone.
- Reporting Injured Wildlife: Listing of Wildlife Rehabilitation Facilities by County
- Lions in the Santa Monica Mountains? – From the National Park Service