Stockton handles coyote sightings through hazing education and pet-protection guidance from Stockton Animal Services, with lethal removal limited to California Department of Fish and Wildlife depredation cases.
Coyotes are common across Stockton parks, levees along the San Joaquin River, and edges of the Port and ag lands. The City does not run a relocation or culling program; instead, Stockton Animal Services and CDFW promote hazing (yelling, waving arms, throwing objects) and securing pet food, fallen fruit, and small pets at dawn and dusk. Aggressive coyotes that kill livestock or pets may be removed under a CDFW depredation permit. Trapping coyotes is regulated by California Fish and Game Code and generally requires a licensed trapper.
Feeding coyotes, illegal trapping, or unpermitted lethal removal can lead to citations and CDFW prosecution under Fish and Game Code, with fines and possible misdemeanor charges.
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