A lone coyote stretched out for a sunny rest on a secluded North Beach slope yesterday, drawing a response from San Francisco Animal Care & Control officers. Witnesses later spotted the animal at street level before it moved on. No injuries to people or pets were reported, but the timing has officials reminding residents that spring pupping season is in full swing and coyotes are more active and visible.
Animal Care & Control Posted The Sighting
According to Animal Care & Control San Francisco on Facebook, officers were dispatched after reports that a coyote had been sunning in a tucked-away North Beach spot and later wandered down toward the street. The agency shared photos of the animal and reminded neighbors to report sightings and concerns through official city reporting channels.
What The City Recommends
San Francisco Animal Care & Control maintains a coyote resources page that urges residents to keep small pets indoors, never feed wildlife, and use humane hazing techniques, such as loud noises or other deterrents, to encourage coyotes to move along. The agency notes that emergency dispatch is available at (415) 554-9400 from 6 a.m. to midnight and should be used only when a coyote is incapacitated or creating a traffic hazard.
Not An Isolated Sighting
Encounters have been popping up around the city this spring. SFGATE reported that sections of the Presidio were temporarily closed while a breeding pair prepared to den. Earlier this year, KQED covered a coyote that swam to Alcatraz, a reminder of how mobile and adaptable urban coyotes can be.
Quick Safety Tips For Neighbors
City officials reiterate a few basic rules: if you spot a coyote, keep dogs on leash, scoop up small pets, and do not run. Instead, make loud noises, wave your arms, or use a water sprayer to haze the animal until it moves away. For non-emergency encounters, residents are encouraged to use SFACC’s online Report a Coyote Sighting form, and to call (415) 554-9400 only if the animal appears injured or is posing a traffic hazard, per San Francisco Animal Care & Control.
