Santa Ana follows OC Animal Care and California Department of Fish and Wildlife guidance to manage urban coyotes through hazing, public education, and removal of attractants. Residents may not feed, trap, or relocate coyotes without state authorization or permits.
Coyotes are protected under California Fish and Game Code as a non-game mammal, meaning private trapping or relocation is restricted and requires CDFW oversight. Santa Ana, especially neighborhoods bordering Santiago Creek, the Santa Ana River, and golf courses, sees regular coyote activity. The city encourages residents to haze coyotes by yelling, waving arms, or using noisemakers to restore wariness of humans. Property owners must secure trash, pet food, and fallen fruit, and supervise small pets. OC Animal Care responds to aggressive or sick coyotes; healthy ones generally are not removed because new coyotes quickly fill empty territory.
Feeding wildlife including coyotes can be cited as a public nuisance starting near 100 dollars, and unlawful trapping can trigger CDFW penalties up to 1000 dollars per animal.
Santa Ana, CA
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Santa Ana, CA
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Santa Ana, CA
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See how other cities in Orange County handle coyote management.
See how Santa Ana's coyote management rules stack up against other locations.
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