Wild Life Watch Area

Los Alamitos has been designated a wild life watch area.

What Does This Mean?

A Wildlife Watch designation is placed on a neighborhood or zip code to address the increase in human-wildlife conflict. This designation has occurred because reported wildlife incidents in your neighborhood or zip code have reached Level 4 or above:

  • Increase in wildlife on streets and in yards at night
  • Increase in wildlife approaching adults and/or taking pets at night
  • Wildlife on streets, and in parks and yards, in early morning/late afternoon
  • Wildlife chasing or taking pets in daytime
  • Wildlife attacking and taking pets on leash or near owners; chasing joggers, bicyclists, other adults
  • Wildlife seen in and around children’s play areas, school grounds, and parks in midday with children present
  • Wildlife acting aggressively towards adults or children in midday

How Will I Be Affected?

During this time, Animal Care Services will schedule increased enforcement activities in your neighborhood. This may include:

  • An additional officer will be assigned to the area for patrol and assessment during reported high-activity times and locations and issues citations for violations
  • Residents will be cited for free-roaming dogs and cats (unaltered), as well as informed about state laws regarding the feeding and harassment of wildlife
  • License Inspectors will be canvassing your neighborhood to distribute education material, verify license and rabies information, and issue citations for violations
  • Officers will collect reports regarding activity of wildlife and behavior of animal owners in designated area to share with county, state and federal wildlife agencies
  • Information will be shared with Police Department, Environmental Health (restaurant inspection), School District (neighborhood schools) to increase patrols
  • State Fish & Game Department will be notified of Wildlife Watch designation and pre-existing reports of coyote activity and workshop or assessment may follow

What Must I Do?

Aggressive wildlife will be removed by USDA and State Fish & Game, only if preventative measures have first been implemented by a community. Preventative measures have been proven to reduce or eliminate the number of human-wildlife confrontations. You must:

  • Never allow pets to roam and never leave small children unattended
  • Create an inhospitable environment for wildlife
  • Remove attractants (e.g. food, shelter and water) and keep pet food indoors
  • Keep trash cans covered and secured at all times
  • Clear brush from around the house and pickup fallen fruit

How Do I Report an Incident?

Any incidents involving wildlife at Level 4 and greater (see list above) should be reported immediately to emergency services 9-1-1. Since the City of Los Alamitos contracts with the City of Long Beach for Animal Care Services, residents are encouraged to report all other wildlife-related incidents as described in Level 1 through Level 3 to Animal Care Services.