You see a coyote. Here's what to do

Coyotes can cause property damage, loss of pets, and risks for human health and safety, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife .

The agency has these tips if you see a coyote:

• Keep a safe distance and back away slowly.
• Keep small pets close to you.
• Make a loud sound. Yell, clap, or blow a whistle.
• Wave your arms to make yourself look big.
• Let the coyote leave the immediate area on its own.
• Fight back if a coyote makes contact. Then call your county's Animal Control office or 911.

How to protect pets, deter coyotes

Fish and Wildlife also offer tips to protect your pets and home.

• Don't leave small pets unsupervised outside. Bring them in at night.
• Keep pets on a leash when you walk them. Deter coyotes with a whistle or other noisemaker.
• Keep trash, recycling and pet food in secure bins. They attract coyotes.
• Keep small livestock and poultry in pens at night. When possible, add electric fencing.
• Keep small bird feeders clean. Remove fallen or scattered seed that might attract rodents or other small animals.

More ways to deter coyotes

The Humane Society of the United States offers these tips:

• Remove your pets' water bowls.
• Use no-spill bird feeders and spicy bird seed.
• If you see a coyote, make noise and throw sticks, small rocks, tennis balls and rubber balls. The society said you can also use hoses, water guns with vinegar water, spray bottles with vinegar water, pepper spray and bear repellant.

The common disease carried by coyotes is rabies, according to the humane society.

Don't feed coyotes

California Fish and Wildlife warns against feeding coyotes. Besides putting yourself in danger, feeding wildlife is against state law.

Earlier this summer, Bryan Bray, field services manager for Ventura County Animal Services, said he hadn't seen an increase in coyote sightings in his area. But he noted coyotes come into urban areas to look for water when there's an increased dryness in mountains.

Coyotes help the environment

Coyotes benefit the ecosystem in many ways, according to state Fish and Wildlife. Those include controlling rodents and other small mammal populations.

Dave Mason covers East County for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at dave.mason@vcstar.com or 805-437-0232.

This story features previous reporting by Seth Jacobson of the USA Today Network.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: You see a coyote. Here's what to do