IF YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, CALL 911

You are required by law to report any bite or scratch from a domestic or wild animal

Orange County Codified Ordinance 4-1-62 Duty to Report, "Any person having knowledge of the location of an animal suspected of having rabies, or of any person having been bitten or scratched by any warm-blooded mammal, or of any signs of disease or unusual behavior in any animal under quarantine, shall immediately report such facts to the Director." 

California Code of Regulations 2606(c) Animal Contacts, “Any animal of a species subject to rabies which has been bitten by a known rabid or suspected rabid animal or has been in intimate contact with a rabid or suspected rabid animal shall be quarantined in a place and manner approved by the local health officer, except where such responsibility has been delegated to a comparable officer by the local governing body.”

• Animal vs. human: When any warm-blooded mammal breaks the skin of a human with its teeth, the human may be exposed to Rabies.
• Pet vs. wildlife: When a pet dog/cat has come in physical contact with a wild mammal e.g. skunk, bat, raccoon, etc.  Extended quarantine period required.

Report an animal bite or scratch from a domestic or wild animal by calling the County of Orange Rabies Control Desk at (714) 796-6421 or visiting www.ocpetinfo.com

What We're Doing
Anaheim has adopted a management plan to address coyotes in our neighborhoods.

The plan relies heavily on the only proven, long-term approach to managing coyotes: deterrence. Anaheim has a professional trapper that we use throughout the year to handle high threat areas.

View our Coyote Management Plan by clicking on the link to the right. 

What You Can Do

Coyotes are drawn to cities for easy sources of food, including trash cans and outdoor pet food, which draws smaller rodents that coyotes feed on.

 But there are easy steps you can take to keep your home, family and pets safe.

Feeding
Don’t feed coyotes or other wildlife (with some exceptions for feral cats). Feeding wildlife can be a violation of the city’s municipal code and result in fines. Even worse, feeding coyotes leads the animals to associate people with food and lose all fear of humans.

Hazing
If you encounter a coyote, stand tall, wave your arms and yell. This is what wildlife experts call hazing. If necessary, throw a rock near — not at — the animal. If the coyote doesn’t leave, slowly walk away backward maintaining eye contact.

Walking Dogs
Use a leash that provides good control of your dog — recommend not using retractable leashes. When possible, walk your dog with another person. Consider carrying a stick, umbrella or other defensive item. Experts don’t recommend Mace or other self-defense sprays as they can blow back on you. Should you encounter a coyote, pick up your dog if possible or place them behind you. Then stand tall, yell or throw something near the coyote. Don't run — you'll trigger the coyote's predator instinct.

Coyote Deterrents
Pets & children should be supervised at all times.

Remove sources of drinking water.

Don't leave your pet's food dish out at night, especially with food still in it.

Don't leave pet cats or small dogs outside at night unless they are in a roofed kennel with an animal proof lock.

The first and best way to keep coyotes away from your backyard is to install a six foot fence with roller-bars on the top. This will normally keep family members and pets safe from prowling coyotes, although occasionally large coyotes can clear even 6ft. fences.

Coyotes tend to hunt at night so it is also suggested that motion sensor lighting in the yard and on the house will also deter them, although coyotes are very adaptable.

Keep yard bushes trimmed and yard trimmings thrown away. This gives predators like coyotes no available place to hide. Be sure the yard has no convenient den spots. This would be a cave-like place that provides shelter, rather than keeping coyotes away.

Additional Resources:

Department of Fish & Wildlife:  www.wildlife.ca.gov/Keep-Me-Wild/Coyote 

(916) 445-0411 

Orange County Animal Care Services: www.ocpetinfo.com/edu/coyote_encounters

(714) 935-6848

Questions or Concerns?

Luis Espinal: (714) 765-4477, LEspinal@anaheim.net

Aliana Meneses: (714) 765- 4404, AMeneses@anaheim.net

Code Enforcement: (714) 765-5158