Our mission
In Orange County, California, the Coyote Coexistence Council brings residents, city officials, and wildlife experts to one table. Together we build evidence-based safety plans that keep neighborhoods safe and coyotes wild — and we hold ourselves accountable to the results.
Worried about a coyote right now?
Saw one in the yard? Followed on a walk? Get plain, evidence-based answers — what's normal, what isn't, and what to actually do.
A seat for every voice
The conversation works when everyone affected is at the table.
Residents
Neighbors grouped by city, sharing on-the-ground experience and local concerns.
Municipalities
City staff and officials who set policy and put plans into practice.
Experts & professionals
Wildlife biologists, vets, animal-control, and shelter staff — grounding decisions in evidence and frontline data.
Stewards
Admins who keep the dialogue open, respectful, and moving toward action.
What the neighbors are saying
By the numbers
We read the public conversation so we could meet it honestly. Here's what Orange County is actually talking about when it talks about coyotes — drawn from neighbors' own posts, in aggregate.
Public Orange County Nextdoor threads about coyotes, 2026.
Top threads drew 468, 334, 207, 141, and 103 reactions — the demand for a coordinated response is real.
About 1 in 4 lead with coexistence; the rest are neutral. That split is exactly why one table matters.
Recurring reports of cat and dog losses — some despite protective gear — dominate the conversation.
Followed by Orange, Lake Forest, Costa Mesa, and Mission Viejo. Laguna Woods has already hired a wildlife hazing contractor.
Coyotes stay active across every season here — coexistence is a year-round practice, not a seasonal scare.
Source: the Council's analysis of 95 public Orange County Nextdoor discussions about coyotes (50-mile radius, 2026; reviewed 21 Jun 2026). These figures are a signal of concern, not a verified incident count. Voluntary posts over-represent who posts — typically more-online, more-affluent, English-speaking neighborhoods — so this reflects the loudest part of the conversation, not every community equally. Closing that gap is part of our equity commitment.
How we work
- 1Members share their experiences, observations, and concerns.
- 2Professionals add expertise and evidence.
- 3Everyone weighs it together and updates their positions — experts included.
- 4The Council shapes an action plan and works toward agreement, with a fair way to settle a deadlock.
- 5Municipal representatives bring the plan to their cities for approval.
- 6Implementation begins, closely monitored by the Council.
- 7Results are evaluated and the plan is adjusted.
- 8When the goals are met, the active phase ends and ongoing maintenance passes to the municipalities.
New here? Watch these first.
Three short videos from wildlife agencies — about fifteen minutes total, and most of what a neighbor needs to know.
Be part of the plan
Tell us your city and how you'd like to help — and stand with the neighbors building a real plan.