Coyote Advisory Issued For Murrieta's California Oaks Sports Park

MURRIETA, CA — The city of Murrieta announced Thursday that coyotes have been sighted at California Oaks Sports Park.

"While coyote sightings in Murrieta are not uncommon, it is unusual that they appear while so many people are gathered in the park," the city advised.

Coyotes play an important role in the ecosystem, helping to keep rodent populations under control. They are naturally afraid of humans, but they are resourceful and can survive in urban and residential areas, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

If coyotes are given access to human food and garbage, their behavior changes, according to the agency which recommends "keeping coyotes wild" by, among other things, never feeding them.

"Feeding a coyote will cause it to lose its natural fear of people and may result in a dangerous situation for people, pets, and coyotes," the agency warns.

Murrieta residents who live near open spaces know the dangers coyotes can pose to pets like cats, rabbits, chickens, baby livestock, and small- to medium-sized dogs.

The following from the city and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife provides tips for living with coyotes:

• Keep pets safe at night by bringing them indoors.
• Keep doors and windows closed and locked when unoccupied.
• Never feed coyotes. When visiting the park, do not leave food behind.
• Keep your dog on a leash no longer than 6 feet.
• Don't allow your dog to go into brush or bushes.
• Use extra caution from dusk through dawn.
• If a coyote approaches, don't run or turn your back. Coyotes will almost always run away from humans, but if not face the animal and back away slowly. Make loud noises and throw rocks in its direction.

Read more about keeping coyotes wild here.