Torrance is the only South Bay city that pays a trapper to capture and kill coyotes. Between 2016 and 2023, the city spent over $250,000 on the coyote management plan. Now the plan is up for renewal with more than $180,000 allocated to the plan overall, of which more than $80,000 is allocated to the coyote trapper contract.
We have the opportunity to stop this and stand up for wildlife…
September 15, 2026
3031 Torrance Blvd.
If you plan to speak, arrive by 6:30 to sign up
Email your thoughts to all the City Council members and the Mayor
CityCouncil@TorranceCA.gov SKalani@TorranceCA.gov
It’s not the City’s responsibility to “get rid of” coyotes; that’s impossible. Science proved that. History proved that. What the City should do is teach residents how to live with these animals. The Council and staff along with local nature organizations can create educational programs in every Torrance district. If you do plan to speak and need some talking points, the Nature Center gift shop has a booklet, Living with Wildlife. In addition, see the following talking points:
STOP KILLING WILDLIFE TALKING POINTS
Note: You will have three minutes; the time the Council will allow was recently increased.
- Do not renew contract to kill coyotes.
- Trappers don’t just kill coyotes; other species also get caught in the traps.
- Trying to kill coyotes is a complete waste of taxpayer dollars as our neighboring cities have discovered.
- Torrance paid out at least $1.5 Million over the past 10 years and we still have coyotes.
- Science and history were right. The Council knew this 10 years ago. Don’t throw good money after bad.
- The funds spent killing wildlife should be invested in educational programs for the entire City.
- History, science, and nature have all taught us that killing coyotes doesn’t work; life finds a way.
- If Torrance continues to develop on open spaces without regard for wildlife then Torrance will drive these animals into human living spaces.
- Re-wild portions of our 33 parks so wildlife has a place to find food, shelter and survive. This will reduce encounters with humans and pets.
- Humans have tried to eradicate rats and mice for eons. An adult coyote will consume 5-10 rats/mice in a single evening.
- It is heart breaking to have a pet killed by a coyote; it is equally heartbreaking to see a pet killed by a car. We have learned to keep our pets out of traffic and we can learn to keep them safe from wildlife.