Redwood Shores residents are on alert after Redwood City police warned today that aggressive coyotes have been roaming the waterfront neighborhood, cutting through yards and strolling along sidewalks. The sightings have rattled pet owners and regulars on local walking paths, and the advisory has sparked a bump in calls to both animal control and police.
Officers responded to multiple reports in the 1000 block of Rockport Avenue and the 900 block of Redwood Shores Parkway, and residents were urged to bring pets indoors. As reported by SFGATE, anyone who spots the animals is asked to note the exact location and call authorities.
Where to Report Sightings
If you encounter a coyote, you are asked to call Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA’s Animal Rescue & Control at 650-340-8200, per Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. For non-emergency police assistance or to report a public safety concern, contact the Redwood City Police Department’s 24-hour dispatch at 650-780-7118, according to the City of Redwood City.
How to Respond if You See a Coyote
Officials say the first step is to get children and pets inside, then back away calmly. Do not run and do not corner the animal. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends removing attractants like food and using hazing techniques such as yelling, clapping, waving your arms, or using noisemakers to help re-establish a coyote’s natural wariness of people, per the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
A study published in Scientific Reports found that when hazing is used consistently, coyotes are less likely to approach people over time.
Why Coyotes Are Showing Up in Redwood Shores
Redwood Shores sits beside tidal marshes, sloughs and restored wetlands that are part of the larger Don Edwards San Francisco Bay refuge and nearby ecological reserves. Those habitats provide food and shelter for coyotes and other wildlife, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Urban edge neighborhoods with trails and backyard green space often see more coyote activity as animals move along natural corridors and forage near people’s yards.
In the meantime, officials are urging residents to secure garbage, bring pet food indoors, and closely supervise small animals, particularly around dawn and dusk. If a coyote acts aggressively or a pet is injured, call 911. For all other encounters, report sightings to Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA at 650-340-8200 or to Redwood City Police non-emergency dispatch at 650-780-7118.
