Programs Report August 10, 2018 by Teri Muse

Julie Bank , President and CEO of the Pasadena Humane Society talked about co-existing with urban wildlife which are wild animals who have learned to co-exist with humans.  Julie gave us lots of tips on how to learn about the habits of coyotes and bears so we can change our behaviors to co-exist with them.

As Julie pointed out, they are mainly looking for food so the most important tips are: secure your crawl spaces, use bear-proof trash cans, remove outdoor pet food and clean your BBQ after each use.  Another thing you can do is to harvest fruit off trees as soon as it is ripe and pick up any fruit that falls on the ground.  Bears love avocados, so if you have an avocado tree be especially diligent.  Motion sensing lights and timed sprinklers will also deter a bear from coming onto your property.

If you encounter a bear, the most important thing is to stand and face the bear directly, never run away from a bear.  You also can make yourself look as big as possible by spreading your arms, make noise like banging on a pot, yelling or shake a can of coins as Julie does when she walks her dogs.

When it comes to coyotes, make sure you do not have any outdoor pet food and never leave your pet outdoors unsupervised.  Make sure your fence is 6ft or higher and eliminate any sources of water like bird baths or puddles.  Julie dispelled one myth that coyotes are nocturnal, she said they are out at all times, not just nights.  The tactic of making yourself big works for coyotes, too and never turn your back and run away from them.

For more information, you can visit their website at pasadenahumane.org or call the wildlife hotline at (626) 792-7151 ext. 110.