Police are warning residents to safeguard their pets after someone reported seeing a coyote eating a dead cat Wednesday in Redondo Beach.
The coyote and its apparent prey were spotted about 7:40 a.m. in the 2000 block of Vanderbilt Lane, according to the Redondo Beach Police Department.
Anyone who spots a coyote is asked to report it to the city’s Animal Control office at (310) 318-0611 or call 911 in the event of an immediate threat. After-hours, police can be reached at (310) 379-5411.
Meanwhile, residents were advised to:
— never leave small children unattended;
— scare away coyotes by using “hazing” tactics such as standing tall, yelling and waving arms while approaching the animal;
— use whistles, air horns, bells, pots and pans, water hoses, pepper spray, rocks or tennis balls to ward off coyotes;
— chaperone pets while outside, especially at night, and always keep pets on a leash;
— refrain from feeding wildlife or leaving pets or their food outside;
— remove fallen food from the ground;
— keep trash in containers with tight lids; and
— never run from a coyote.
–City News Service