The Animal Protection Institute (API) recently helped the City of San Francisco’s Animal Care and Control with a public education campaign to teach residents how to co-exist with coyotes. Through its progressive and compassionate actions, San Francisco has set a great example for communities around the country.
API can help you make your city coyote-friendly too, and urges you to find out more about the resources available to you to take proactive steps for coyotes in your area.
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Background
API aims to reduce the number of coyotes that are killed as a result of coming into conflict with people and to foster greater understanding and appreciation for the important role coyotes play in maintaining ecosystem health and species diversity.
With the help of API, the City of San Francisco’s Animal Care and Control has developed educational inserts to accompany city water bills. These were sent to 175,000 San Francisco residents.
In addition, “Be Coyote Aware” signs developed by API have been posted in schools, shops, and in neighborhoods where coyotes have been sighted. Information was also included in the agency’s newsletter and will be included in the San Francisco voter registration booklet — which is sent to all registered voters in San Francisco.
How You Can Help Coyotes in Your Community
API offers information to advocates and communities about effective, humane strategies for addressing conflicts with coyotes, which includes our publication, Coyotes in Our Midst: Coexisting with an Adaptable and Resilient Carnivore, the first ever comprehensive report on non-lethal approaches to conflicts between humans and coyotes in both urban and rural areas.
Valuable Resources. API aims to reduce the number of coyotes that are killed as a result of coming into conflict with people and to foster greater understanding and appreciation for the important role coyotes play in maintaining ecosystem health and species diversity. API offers assistance, referrals, and information on humane, non-lethal ways to deal with coyote conflicts to create long-term community solutions. Information on coexisting with other wildlife can also be found at www.coexistingwithwildlife.com.
Educational Materials. In addition to Coyotes in Our Midst, API offers a full color brochure on living with coyotes and informational signs and doorhangers for neighborhood education efforts.
Model management plans. API offers assistance to communities in developing model coyote management policies by offering model ordinances addressing wildlife feeding and coyote attractant mitigation. Copies of our model ordinances are available on request and on our website.
If you have any questions regarding the materials or would like assistance with your activities, please contact API at campaigns@api4animals.org.