Coyotes and small dogs on the Peninsula

Updated October 1, 2026

Coyotes live on the Peninsula and across the South Bay, and every city here has a plan for them. The plans differ in the details, but the advice for small-dog households is very consistent: secure the yard, supervise at dawn and dusk, remove anything that looks like dinner, and report what you see. This guide collects each city's official guidance in one place, with the numbers to call.

What every city agrees on

Don't leave small pets out unattended, especially early morning, dusk and overnight. Rolling Hills and Carson both advise keeping cats and small dogs indoors.
Remove food. That means pet food and water bowls, fallen fruit, birdseed and trash. Rancho Palos Verdes notes that feeding coyotes is illegal.
Haze coyotes that come close. Be big and loud, then escalate to noisemakers or a hose.
Report sightings so the city can track patterns. Most cities have a form, a hotline or a map.

Making the yard harder to get into

The most specific yard guidance on the Peninsula comes from RPV: fences six feet tall with no gaps along the bottom, motion-activated lights, low shrubs trimmed back so there's nowhere to hide, and bird feeders brought in at night.

Carson adds a detail worth knowing. Its coyote cautions recommend fences at least 5.5 feet tall with a galvanized wire apron at the base, because coyotes are more likely to dig under than jump over. Carson also suggests clearing ivy and low shrubs, emptying water bowls after dark, and not putting trash out until pickup day.

A gate is only as good as its latch. Walk your fence line once a month and check the gate after anyone has been through it, including gardeners, pool service, and us.

Hazing, done safely

Hazing teaches coyotes that people and yards are unpleasant places to be. RPV's version: stand tall, wave your arms and yell, and carry a whistle or a squirt gun on walks. Palos Verdes Estates suggests a shaker can, an umbrella, an air horn or a hose. Manhattan Beach says to clap, whistle and make yourself look bigger.

Lomita's 2026 coyote management plan adds sensible limits. Haze only when it's safe to do so, never chase a coyote toward traffic, and don't haze one that looks sick or injured. Report those instead.

If you're walking a small dog and see a coyote, pick the dog up if you can do it safely, then haze. Carson recommends a short leash on every walk.

Where to report, city by city

Palos Verdes Estates: police dispatch at 310-378-4211, or 911 if a coyote is aggressive toward people. PVE also uses the Peninsula-wide sighting portal.
Rancho Palos Verdes: the city's online sighting form, which feeds a live map. Dangerous behavior goes to Code Enforcement at 310-544-5281 or the LA County Agricultural Commissioner at 626-575-5462. For sick or injured coyotes, call LA County Animal Control at 310-523-9566.
Rolling Hills Estates: the LA County Agricultural Commissioner at 626-575-5462, the Peninsula sighting portal, or the city at 310-377-1577.
Rolling Hills: City Hall at 310-377-1521, weekdays 7:30am to 5pm.
Lomita: the Community Safety Division, through the city's online service request form or the Lomita Connect app.
Torrance: the 24-hour Coyote Hotline at 310-618-3898, or report online.
Redondo Beach: Animal Services at 310-379-2477 ext. 6. After hours, email [email protected] with the subject "Coyote - Date - Time - Location."
Manhattan Beach: MBPD Animal Control at 310-802-5160, or 911 for an immediate threat.
Hermosa Beach: the police non-emergency line, 310-524-2750.
Carson: Public Safety at 310-830-7600 ext. 1788, plus the statewide Coyote Cacher map run by UC's agriculture extension.
San Pedro and Harbor City: LA Animal Services, whose wildlife page includes a coyote hazing video.

In every city, call 911 if a coyote attacks or threatens a person.

How each city approaches it

Most South Bay cities now rely on education, hazing and tracking, and keep removal for coyotes that behave dangerously. Redondo Beach adopted its coyote management and response plan in May 2025 and publishes a coyote dashboard. Torrance's program dates to 2016 and maps sightings. Lomita's current plan is from 2026. Rolling Hills Estates sorts encounters by behavior: ordinary sightings are logged, and bolder behavior calls for more active hazing. A coyote crossing a street at dawn is normal. A coyote that follows people or ignores hazing is the kind worth reporting right away.

A small routine that helps

Take the dog out on a leash at first light and after dark, even in a fenced yard.
Bring bowls, toys and treats in at night.
Pick up fallen fruit and keep the yard clear of waste, which is part of the general food-and-smell picture the cities describe.
Check the gate latch every evening.

On every visit we close and latch your gate and email you a photo of it. That's one less thing to check before bedtime.

City pages

Dog waste removal in Palos Verdes Estates · Dog waste removal in Rancho Palos Verdes · Dog waste removal in Rolling Hills · Dog waste removal in Rolling Hills Estates · Dog waste removal in Lomita · Dog waste removal in Torrance · Dog waste removal in Redondo Beach · Dog waste removal in Manhattan Beach · Dog waste removal in Hermosa Beach · Dog waste removal in Carson · Dog waste removal in San Pedro · Dog waste removal in Harbor City