Local Wildlife Safety
The CSU Monterey Bay Campus and East Campus Housing Areas are close to wood lined and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) properties. These areas provide some of the best hiking and mountain biking areas in Monterey County, but they are also home to many species of wildlife including (but certainly not limited to) coyotes, mountain lions, wild pigs, wild turkeys, deer, raccoons, and skunks.
Precautions for local wildlife
- Do not leave pets outside unattended.
- Bring pets in at night, and do not leave pet food outside.
- Remove sources of water especially in dry climates.
- Put away bird feeders at night to avoid attracting rodents and other coyote prey.
- Do not hike, bike, or jog alone.
- Do not approach mountain lions or coyotes.
- If you encounter a mountain lion or coyote, make loud noises waive your arms and try to look bigger by waiving your arms. If this fails, throw rocks in the animal’s direction. Pick up small children.
- If attacked, fight back.
- Report attacks or suspected stalking incidents to UPD at (831) 655-0268. In emergency, call 911.
Resources
The California Department of Fish and Game has a variety of resources and additional information available on their website as part of the Keep Me Wild program: