San Diego Humane Society Advises Community on Coexisting with Coyotes

Coyote Awareness Week highlights the role of coyotes in the local ecosystem and steps residents can take to safely live alongside them.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 10:09pm

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The San Diego Humane Society is marking Coyote Awareness Week by encouraging residents to better understand coyotes and take steps to safely coexist with them. As coyotes are a vital part of the local ecosystem, the organization is providing guidance on how to reduce conflicts, such as keeping pets secure, eliminating food sources, and using humane hazing techniques if a coyote approaches. The humane society is also supporting efforts to establish a permanent Wildlife Coexistence Program within the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Why it matters

With San Diego's growing communities expanding into wildlife habitats, encounters with coyotes have become more common. By educating the public on coyote behavior and promoting coexistence strategies, the San Diego Humane Society aims to keep both people and wildlife safe while maintaining the important role coyotes play in the local ecosystem.

The details

The San Diego Humane Society's Project Wildlife program cared for 107 injured, sick or orphaned coyotes in 2025 and has treated 19 animals so far this year. The organization recommends that residents keep pets secure, eliminate food sources, and use humane hazing techniques if a coyote approaches. Coyotes typically avoid people but can grow accustomed to residential areas when food is readily available, so removing attractants and remaining vigilant can help maintain a healthy distance between wildlife and neighborhoods.

  • Coyote Awareness Week is observed annually from March through May, coinciding with peak mating and pupping season when coyotes are more active.
  • In the 2026–27 fiscal year, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking state funding to establish a permanent Wildlife Coexistence Program.

The players

San Diego Humane Society

A nonprofit organization that provides animal welfare services and promotes humane treatment of animals in the San Diego region.

Project Coyote

A national nonprofit organization that works to promote coexistence between people and wildlife through education, science, and advocacy.

Autumn Welch

Wildlife operations manager at the San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center.

Catherine Blakespear

California state senator who introduced Senate Bill 1135 to establish a permanent Wildlife Coexistence Program within the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

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What they’re saying

“As our communities grow and expand into wildlife habitat, encounters with coyotes can become more common. Understanding their behavior and taking simple precautions can help keep both people and wildlife safe.”

— Autumn Welch, Wildlife operations manager, Ramona Wildlife Center (timesofsandiego.com)

What’s next

In the 2026–27 fiscal year, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking state funding to establish a permanent Wildlife Coexistence Program, which would provide science-based responses to human-wildlife interactions.

The takeaway

By educating the public on coyote behavior and promoting coexistence strategies, the San Diego Humane Society aims to maintain a healthy balance between the local community and the important role coyotes play in the ecosystem. This approach can serve as a model for other communities facing similar challenges with urban wildlife.