Living with Wildlife
Communities along the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains share a special relationship with the wildlife who live there as well. Sometimes these animals wander into our yards or just can’t resist getting into our trash. The tips and links on this page provide information about how we can deter this type of behavior and live peacefully with our wild neighbors. These include emergency resources as well as long-term coexistence strategies.
Need support with wildlife? Check out our different resources and information sections below.
Wildlife sightings
Have you seen a bear, mountain lion, bobcat, or other native wildlife species in your neighborhood recently? We want to know! Community sourced wildlife sightings help us better understand wildlife behavior — and ultimately protect them.
Please use the button below to report your sighting. The more detail you have (like specific location, dates and time, and images or video) the better.
INJURED WILDLIFE
If you come across injured or sick wildlife here are a few resources:
Pasadena Humane Society: If you live in Altadena, Arcadia (City only), Bradbury, Glendale, La Cañada-Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, Monrovia (City Only), Pasadena (City & Unincorporated), San Marino, Sierra Madre, or South Pasadena, the Pasadena Humane Society may be able to help. Below is a list of their services, for more detailed information visit their website.
- Wildlife Helpline: If you are unsure of the animal’s age or condition, text a photo and description of the circumstances to the PHS wildlife helpline at 626.344.1129 between 9am to 5pm.Â
- Ill or Injured Animals: If the animal is obviously sick or injured, call or text the wildlife helpline at 626.344.1129 (text is preferred). Obvious signs of illness or injury include bleeding, dragging limbs, obvious wounds or displaying neurological symptoms such as circling or head twitching.Â
- Orphaned Baby Wildlife: If you find a baby wild animal, please refer to the baby animal flow chart below. We ask that you please attempt to reunite healthy baby wildlife with their parents before the animal is considered for admission. Keeping young wildlife with their parents ensures a higher likelihood of survival.
Other resources:
- California Wildlife Center (emergency hotline: 310 458 9453)
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife Incident Report and Living With Wildlife Resources
- Los Angeles Audubon Wildlife Rehabilitation Resources
Rodenticide
It’s important to keep in mind how everything we do impacts the wildlife around us. Using rodenticide kills not only vermin, but works its way up the food chain, resulting in the death of everything from foxes, hawks and owls to mountain lions.
Take a look at this website for ideas on how to humanely control the rodent population around your home.
Deterring Wildlife
Information provided by Pasadena Humane Society.
We want to live harmoniously with wildlife, and sometimes that means deterring them. There are simple and humane actions you can take to deter wildlife from your yard, and to help minimize human-wildlife conflicts:
- Never intentionally feed wild animals.
- Take in all pet food and water. Don’t leave pet food or water outside, especially at night. Wildlife is attracted to an easy meal.
- Keep pet animals indoors. Don’t let your pet become part of the food chain; always bring them inside before dark.
- Secure or lock the lids of your outdoor garbage cans. Put cans out early the morning of garbage pick up. You can also purchase bear-proof trash cans.
- Pick up fallen fruit from the ground nightly.
- Pick fruit when it’s ripe.
- Cover fruit tree branches with mesh netting and secure the netting to the trunk to exclude hungry animals.
- Fence off or net areas that you wish to protect.
- Clear away woodpiles and brush piles after the winter. Keep vegetation near the house neatly trimmed. This will lessen the opportunity for wild animals to find shelter.
- Close access to crawl spaces, attic, shed and garage spaces. Keep all doors closed at night.
- Shut pet doors at dusk. Skunk, raccoons, opossums or others may follow their nose to the smell of food inside your home.
- Cap or screen off your chimney to keep animals from falling in or building nests in the chimney.
Coyotes (Canis latrans) are common throughout North America, including in urban areas. You may see and hear them more during mating season (December – February) and when juveniles are dispersing from family groups (September – November). These facts and safety tips will help increase comfort and decrease conflicts when living or recreating near America’s native “Song Dog.”
Facts:
- Coyotes are members of the dog family; they are curious, adaptable, and learn quickly.
- They often mate for life, are devoted parents, and are highly communicative (barks, yips, howls).
- Coyotes weigh 18-35 pounds in the West and 30-60 pounds in the East.
- They may be more protective of dens/ territories during pup rearing (April-August).
- Coyotes eat large numbers of rodents and rabbits, as well as fruit, vegetation, insects and carrion. They help keep ecosystems vital, healthy and clean.
- Coyotes are naturally wary of people but can habituate to our presence and the reliable food sources that we provide.
Safety:
- Do not feed coyotes! Their lives and your safety depend on coyotes remaining wild and naturally wary of people.
- Remove attractants: pick up trash, secure garbage, and feed pets inside. Don’t leave food or pets outside at night.
- Walk dogs on leashes, especially during pup rearing season (April-August). Pick up your small dog if you see a coyote and don’t let pets roam.
- If approached, don’t run. Wave your arms, make noises and walk toward the coyote until it retreats. Be “Big, Bad, and Loud.”
- Avoid areas where coyotes may be denning or feeding and hiding pups.
- Learn when and how to “haze” coyotes with the Project Coyote Hazing Field Guide.
- Appreciate coyotes from a distance. Share this information with family and friends.
Living in MOUNTAIN LION HABITAT
In California, we share our land with Mountian Lions (Puma concolor). They are also known as cougars and pumas. In California, average cougar home range sizes can vary from 30 to 300 square miles depending on the sex and age of the cougar. Coastal home ranges tend to be smaller and exhibit less seasonal fluctuations in size than inland home ranges.
When living in or near cougar habitat, it’s important to learn about the species, safety tips, and ways to minimize conflicts. To learn more about how you can safety coexist with these beautiful creatures please visit Cougar Conservancy’s website.
Here’s a helpful guide:
Landscaping for Deer
The following is a list of deer resistant and repellent plants that can help deter deer from your yard. Native plants are particularly resistant to browsing from deer, so next time you’re at your local native plant nursery talk to them about deer repellent plants.Â
Repellent plants
- Sage
- Yarrow
Resistant trees, shrubs and vines
- Arizona ash
- Barberry
- Bearberry
- Brodiaea
- Box elder
- Cactus
- California bay
- California Fuchsia
- California laurel
- California laurel cherry
- California sycamore
- Clematis
- Columbine
- Coyote brush
- Currant
- Elderberry
- Juniper
- Western redbud
- Nolina
- Rhododendron
- Wild-ginger
Resistant flowers and groundcover
- California poppy
- Hyacinth
- Larkspur
- Lavender
The Bear Necessities
Information provided by Pasadena Humane Society
The bears that live in the foothills near Los Angeles are California black bears (Ursus americanus). Despite their name, black bears can have brown, cinnamon, blonde, and even white coats.
When bears become “food conditioned” they will seek human food out more as opposed to finding their own natural foods. Conditions such as fires and droughts can force bears and other wildlife further in their search for food and water.
Black bears are extremely intelligent! They are timid and rarely aggressive unless they are defending their young. The normal human reaction to a bear encounter is to freeze and/or run away, which actually sends the bear the wrong message – you want to let the bear know that it needs to leave! Make sure it has a safe escape route and when you are at a safe distance, make eye contact and yell at the bear. If you have bear spray, make sure you are upwind of the bear before using it.
Tips to Discourage Bears from Your Property
- Do not put out trash cans the night before pick up.
- Purchase bear-proof cans or secure lids with locks.
- Store garbage cans in a garage or closed shed.
- Keep garbage cans clean. Deodorize and disinfect them with bleach or ammonia.
- Promptly collect fruit that falls from trees. Harvest fruit as soon as it’s ripe.
- Remove plants that attract bears, such any berries including Dogwood.
- Eliminate bird feeders during the spring and summer when there are natural foods available for birds.
- Eliminate compost piles.
- Keep BBQ grills clean and free of drippings.
- Consider purchasing bear spray and keep it next to your front and/or back door.