Wildlife Mentoring of the Central Coast

05/01/2026

“I’ve dolphinitely found my Porpoise in life” said no dolphin ever.

04/30/2026

04/22/2026

Meet PWC Animal Ambassadors this spring!

Library Visit Series March 14th to April 29th Meet PWC Animal Ambassadors this spring! Pacific Wildlife Care is partnering with SLO County Libraries to bring our Animal Ambassadors to communities across the county this spring. Join us to learn about local wildlife, wildlife rehabilitation, and how y...

03/20/2026

Don’t trash Wildlife

Littering kills wildlife

01/24/2026

Wildlife Relocation, Trapping? Food for Thought.

Relocation

In the State of California, the relocation of urban mammalian predators—also known as apex predators and mesopredators—is illegal. (Specifically noted are raccoons, skunks, opossums, foxes, coyotes, ringtail cats, etc.) The removal or relocation of these animals creates a trophic cascade, which is an ecological phenomenon triggered by the addition or removal of top predators and involving reciprocal changes in the relative populations of predators and prey through a food chain. This often results in dramatic changes in ecosystem structure and nutrient cycling. In a three-level food chain, an increase (or decrease) in carnivores causes a decrease (or increase) in herbivores and an increase (or decrease) in primary producers.

Wildlife Relocation: Not a Solution

One of the most disturbing trends in urban wildlife management is the increasing reliance on relocation to resolve human–wildlife conflicts. Relocation is commonly perceived as a quick, effective, and humane solution. It is, in fact, none of the above. In the vast majority of cases, relocation is an ineffective, inhumane, and ecologically destructive method for dealing with urban wildlife.

Most wildlife relocation goes undocumented. Local trappers relocate thousands of animals illegally every year, often driven by misguided attempts to “give an animal a better home” or concerns about protecting human safety and/or property. The vast majority, however, can be described as “relocations of convenience.” These are situations in which wildlife is perceived as causing a nuisance or disruption on someone’s property (tipping over garbage cans, eating out of pet food bowls, denning under houses, etc.). These are also situations that, with a little time and effort—and usually at significantly less cost than relocation—could be resolved without removing the wild animal.

Relocation is usually ineffective. A new animal will typically and quickly replace the one that was relocated. Effective long-term solutions can only be achieved by identifying what is attracting the animal and then removing the attractant (covering garbage cans, feeding pets indoors, sealing potential denning areas in attics or under porches, etc.).

Relocation is often inhumane. Many animals do not survive relocation. Each year, multitudes of wild animals are brought in injured or orphaned as a result of trapping. Animals that are relocated must fight for new territories and are often injured or killed in the process. Relocation of a mother and her young is almost always futile, as she must not only fight for territory but also find food, shelter, and a safe place to raise her young. Juveniles left behind after parent animals are trapped most likely die from starvation or exposure, as they are effectively abandoned under these circumstances.

Relocation is biologically unsound. Relocating wildlife into new territories can disrupt the animals already living there. It is also a fast way to spread disease among wildlife populations. In many instances, sick animals are brought to animal shelters or care centers and housed in cages side by side with animals that are about to be relocated, often with no intake health evaluation.

Overburdening the ecosystem with more wildlife than nature can sustain is another consequence. What many people do not consider is that others may also be dumping urban wildlife into the same locations, creating unnaturally dense populations. These animals then struggle to survive because established wild populations already exist there, and competition for food, water, and shelter becomes unsustainable.

Trapping: Bad for Wildlife, Save One Exception

The rules on trapping leave little room for anything other than euthanasia due to state laws. The sole exception is in cases involving infirm, sick, injured, or orphaned animals, which may be turned over to licensed wildlife rehabilitators.

Wildlife trapped by pest control agencies must be released on-site or immediately euthanized. California state law prohibits the relocation of predatory mammals (CCR Title 14, Section 465.5). Furthermore, should traps cause injury, suffering, or crippling of the trapped animal, the trapper may be further prosecuted for inhumane treatment of animals under Section 597 of the Penal Code.

NO TYPES OF BODY-GRIPPING, LEG-HOLD, SNARE, COLLARUM, DOG-PROOF RACCOON TRAPS, OR TRAPS THAT CATCH LIMBS, HEAD, FACE, OR NECK SHOULD EVER BE USED. ONLY NON-LETHAL, HUMANE, AND VERIFIED CAGE TRAPS SHOULD BE USED. NOTE: CRUELY KILLING WILDLIFE BY ANY METHOD IS A CRIME PUNISHABLE BY STATE AND LOCAL LAWS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

This is brought to by Gregory Randall Wildlife Ecologist - Wildlife Mentoring of the Central Coast

01/10/2026

Coyote Do's and Dont's

• Keep your pets indoors if possible since coyotes may be active at any time of day or night. Confine very small pets that you cannot keep indoors to 6 sided covered enclosures constructed of a heavy gauge wire mesh. Coyotes can break through chicken wire.

• Walk your dog on a leash at all times, no longer than 6 feet and keep close. If your yard does not have a fence, keep your pet close to you while outside.

• Pick fruit from trees when ripened and remove all fallen fruit. Cut low hanging branches to prevent the coyotes feeding from trees.

• Trim and thin ground-level shrubbery. Create a 1 foot clearance of space below hedges and bushes to reduce animal hiding places.

• Vegetable gardens should be protected with heavy duty garden fences or greenhouse.

• Check with your local plant nursery to see what type of deterrent products are available. If you have access to the Internet, you may find some items on-line.

• Close off crawl spaces under your home, porches, decks, and sheds. Coyotes use such areas for resting and raising young.

• Clean and store barbecue grills after use.

• Avoid having open wood, brush, and compost piles.

• Do not allow pets to roam from home.

• Do not feed wildlife. It is illegal to feed predatory mammals. Report violations of people observed to be feeding wild mammals.

• Do not leave pet food or water bowls outside if your pet is not outdoors.

• Put all trash bags inside the trash cans and keep lids securely fastened. Place trash cans and bins inside sheds, garages or other enclosed structures. Do not set your trash out until the day of pick-up to reduce attracting predators.

• Do not attempt to pet or otherwise make physical contact with wildlife. Coyotes are wild animals and should be treated as such.

• Never leave small children unattended outdoors.

• Share this information with your neighbors, as your efforts may be futile if someone is providing food or shelter for coyotes.

What should I do if a coyote approaches me?

Wave your arms. Shout in a low, loud tone. Throw objects near the coyote while maintaining eye contact. Make yourself look as big as possible. If you are wearing a jacket, take it off & swing around over your head. If possible go towards active or populated areas but do not turn your back & run from the coyote as that could trigger a chase



How can I keep my dog safe?

Closely supervise your dog. Do not leave small dogs unattended in your yard. Walk your dog on a leash at all times & stay close to high pedestrian traffic areas. Try not to establish a regular routine & route to avoid setting up a pattern for the coyote to detect. Avoid dense brushy areas or paths near abandoned properties. If you notice a coyote when walking your dog, keep your dog as close to you as possible & move towards an active area. Never encourage or allow your dog to interact or “play” with coyotes.

How can I keep my cat safe?

Keep your cat indoors at all times. If your cat must be outside, consider constructing an outdoor 6 sided enclosure that is made of heavy gauge wire or chain-link with an enclosed access way to the house.

How can I keep my children safe?

Make sure that your children never play outside in the same clothes they just ate food in. Wildlife may be attracted to food odors in clothing. Make sure children wash thoroughly after eating. Provide children with a whistle & breakaway necklace they can blow it if an animal approaches. Never let them approach any stray animal. If a coyote approaches, they should face the animal, move slowly to another person or dwelling entrance, raise their arms over their head, clap their hands, stomp their feet, blow a whistle, & call out in a stern loud voice “There is a coyote here.” The best thing to do is avoid leaving children unattended.

Keep in mind that coyote attacks on humans are rare with most attacks taking place as result of people feeding them. Coyotes should be frightened off when the chance presents itself to keep them fearful of humans, which benefits coyotes & people. Coyotes will always be around, trapping throughout history has not changed that. If trapping worked, there would be no more coyotes since it has been done over 200 years

Much of these suggestions will also humanly deter other types of wildlife.

01/09/2026

Thanatosis. (death-feigning)

Recently I have had several people ask me about Thanatosis, and it's been at least 2 decades since that question has come up. Apparently there is an article circulating that explains why this came up.

Simply put, it's playing dead or playing opossum, but that is an oversimplification. In order to truly understand this phenomena, I am posting a detailed abstract (not my own.) that explains in deeper detail than I can provide. Read at your leisure.

Thanatosis—also known as death-feigning and, we argue more appropriately, tonic immobility (TI)—is an under-reported but fascinating anti-predator strategy adopted by diverse prey late on in the predation sequence, and frequently following physical ...

08/31/2025

All mammals are susceptible to rabies. Vaccinate your dogs it's the law, cats in California are optional, however if your cat goes outdoors it should be vaccinated. Knowledge is power, read the guidelines, don't panic, don't assume all Wildlife has rabies just because you see them. Keep up with your Pets regular vaccination schedule for other zoonotic diseases etc.

Rabies remains a major concern worldwide, killing tens of thousands of people every year. These AVMA resources help veterinarians educate pet owners about rabies.