As Malibu residents are reporting more coyote sightings, especially in the Point Dume area, the city is advising residents to protect homes and pets from potential attacks.
According to councilmember Laura Rosenthal, “[Coyotes] are actually coming up on people’s patios, backyards, even when there are people around … I know with the drought, it’s getting worse for them and they’re coming down from the mountains.”
The City of Malibu website provides some tips for keeping properties safe from coyotes:
·Keep your cat or small dog indoors at night or any other time when a coyote is known to be in the area.
·Accompany your small dog in a well-lighted area at night for comfort walks.
·Walk your dog on a leash whenever you take it off of your property.
·Confine poultry and rabbits in covered enclosures constructed with heavy mesh wire. Coyotes can break through ordinary chicken wire.
·Keep all outdoor trash can lids securely fastened to trash containers.
·Pick backyard fruit as soon as it ripens and keep rotten fruit off the ground