As the days begin to lengthen and the weather starts to warm, there are more reports of coyote sightings in Culver City and nearby areas; following precautions can prevent problems.
Neighbors in both Culver Crest and Baldwin Hills have reported seeing coyotes in the early morning hours over the last week, between Dec. 29, 2023 and Jan. 2, 2024.
From the city, “Although they generally avoid human contact, coyotes are wild animals. Coyotes have killed unattended small pets in Culver City. The City monitors residents’ reports of coyote behavior in consultation with wildlife experts, and the City will take appropriate action to protect human safety. It is especially important that the City be notified of any aggressive coyote behavior towards humans.”
Coyotes tend to hunt at night, but are often seen near dawn and sunset. In past years, they have been more often spotted in open areas, but now are frequently seen on streets and sidewalks.
Keeping small pets indoors is strongly recommended. As spring approaches, coyotes will be hunting more often and more aggressively to feed their new pups.
In 2019, the City Council approved a three-year Culver City Coyote Study and Management Program, which is led by Dr. Eric G. Strauss, PhD from the Loyola Marymount University/Los Angeles’s Center for Urban Resilience. Dr. Strauss’s work began on July 1, 2019. The final City of Culver City Coyote Report was completed in September 2022(PDF, 4MB). On March 13, 2023, Dr. Strauss and his team provided a presentation to the City Council about their findings, which included an overview of the Coyote Management Report
