Animal Safety & Awareness

Bee facts

Honey Bees

The Honey Bee is vital to Riverside County for the pollination of crops. Using some simple safety precautions will significantly lower your chances of being stung.

The Honey Bee

• Can sting only once.
• Forages at flowers and produces honey.
• May nest in small cavities around homes or yards.
• May swarm in large groups and move from one area to another.
• Most Honey Bee attacks occur when bees are defending hives or nests.

Bees foraging around flowers and water are not a cause for concern. Most swarms that cluster up and temporarily relocate in a tree, bush or side of house leave within the first 72 hours.

Protect Yourself

• Avoid nests and swarms.
• Check areas for bee activity, especially when power tools are used.
• Learn to bee proof your home.
• Educate yourself and your family.

If Stung

• Leave the area immediately (Run).
• Seek shelter in a home or vehicle.
• Remove stinger quickly - scrape off, do not pinch the venom sack.
• If sensitive or if stung multiple times, seek medical attention.
• In life threatening situations, dial "911"

For more information or assistance with bees, please call Northwest Mosquito Vector Control at (951) 340-9792.

Spay and Neuter Info

The City of Corona Animal Services Department is unable to offer spay/neuter services. Please contact a licensed veterinarian to perform these services.

Each day approximately 60,000 puppies and kittens are born in the United States. As long as these birth rates exist, there will never be enough homes for all the animals. As a result, every year 4 to 8 million animals are euthanized in the United States because there are not enough homes for them.

What does "spay" and "neuter" really mean?

Female dogs and cats are spayed and male dogs and cats are neutered by removing their reproductive organs. Spaying and neutering helps companion dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives.Spaying and neutering can eliminate or reduce a number of health problems over the life of the animal.Spaying eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of mammary cancer, particularly when your pet is spayed before her first estrous cycle.Neutering eliminates testicular cancer in males and may decrease the incidence of prostate disease.Spaying and neutering may enhance a pet's personality making them more affectionate companions.Neutering cats makes them less likely to spray or mark their territory.Spay or Neutered companion animals are less likely to bite, have temperament problems, roam, or fight.Spay or neuter surgery is a one-time cost that is relatively small considering its benefits.

More reasons to Spay or Neuter your pet

In 7 years, one female dog and her offspring can produce 4,372 puppies.In 7 years, one female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats.

Wildlife, Coyotes, Wild Pigs, & Ducks

Please note: Corona Animal Services & Enforcement does not pick up wildlife or bee hives.

Wildlife

The City of Corona borders the Cleveland National Forest to the South and the Prado Dam and Reserve Area to the West. There is a large variety of wildlife that inhabits the City. Wildlife is most often attracted to residential areas due to the availability of food, water and shelter. Residents can encourage wildlife to leave by removing or limiting these elements from their property.

To report any wildlife incidents, please click here. For information on Living with Wildlife, please click here. To speak to someone about wildlife, contact the Department of Fish & Wildlife at 909-484-0167.

The City of Corona Animal Services and Enforcement has identified 10 Simple Rules to help residents coexist with nature. If we may be of further assistance, please contact us at (951) 736-2309.

Ten Simple Rules to Help Prevent Wildlife Problems

DO

1. DO Build fences or walls where feasible. The fences must be sufficient to exclude tunneling rodents and high enough to limit larger animals from entering your property.
2. DO Trim and clear brush and dense shrubbery from around your property.
3. DO Tightly screen all access holes into buildings from ground to roof to help minimize the possibility of rats, squirrels, raccoons, bats and birds from entering.
4. DO Keep garbage containers tightly covered and secure them from falling or being tipped over by larger animals.

DO NOT

1. DO NOT Feed area wildlife. They become dependent on the food and will possibly return, causing problems for you or your neighbors.
2. DO NOT Feed or leave domestic pet food outside your residence. Area wildlife will search out any available food source.
3. DO NOT Allow the accumulation of fallen fruit from residential trees or un-harvested garden vegetables to remain, this entices area wildlife to your property.
4. DO NOT Plant extensive ground cover. It provides a natural habitat for small reptiles and mammals; i.e. rats, mice, lizards and snakes.
5. DO NOT Plant dense creeping vines near walls or buildings as it provides access to the roof and attic of your home for small animals such as rats, squirrels and raccoons.
6. DO NOT Allow domestic pets to roam from home, especially at night. The possibility of injury or death from larger predators always exists. Small companion animals should always be directly supervised when outside of your home.

Wild Pigs

DO STAY AWAY FROM PIGLETS

Sows (female pigs) are very protective and can be easily provoked when it comes to their piglets, therefor approaching piglets in the open is extremely dangerous. Regardless of whether sows are within eyesight, it is very important to always stay away from piglets. Wild pigs are very lean and tough, and at times can run up to 30 miles per hour if they feel threatened.

DO GIVE THE WILD PIG PLENTY OF ROOM

Avoid approaching or feeding any wild pigs that you encounter in your neighborhood. Keep a safe distance away and do not attempt to corner or provoke the animal. Taking a picture of wild pigs while using flash may upset and provoke the animal. Carrying a walking stick can be helpful and may be used as defense if you accidentally come across a wild pig while walking in your neighborhood.

DON’T FEED OR PROVIDE SHELTER FOR THE WILD PIGS

Feeding and providing shelter to wild animals is very dangerous for both yourself and your neighborhood. To deter wild pigs from your property, ensure that your property is secured and free from debris. If you live in an area where wild pigs frequent, ensure your fruit and vegetable garden is secured and maintained. Although the wild pigs may appear shy and docile, they are still wild animals and have unpredictable behavior which can cause a risk to public safety.

DON’T WALK YOUR DOGS OFF LEASH

If you come across wild pigs on your daily walk, please be sure to always have your dog on leash and ensure that your dog is being walked under the control of a responsible adult. Even normal dog behavior, such as barking, can upset a wild pig causing them to act in defense. Wild pigs see other animals as a threat and will defend themselves and their group. To defend yourself and others against a wild pig, bringing a walking stick on your walk may be useful.

IF YOU ENCOUNTER WILD PIGS

• Remain calm
• Never approach or attempt to feed the animal
• Keep a safe distance away and do not corner or provoke them.
• If you see wild pigs with young piglets, always leave them alone. These wild pigs tend to be more dangerous as they attempt to defend their young.

Please report all wild pig sightings to California Fish and Wildlife at Wildlife.ca.gov or by calling (909) 484-0167.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Wild Pigs

How to Keep Wild Pigs Out of Your Yard

Wild Pigs Article

Urban Coyotes

The City of Corona borders the Cleveland National Forest to the South and the Prado Dam and Reserve Area to the West. There is a large variety of wildlife that inhabits the City of Corona. Coyotes are most often attracted to residential areas due to the availability of food, water and shelter. Residents can encourage Coyotes to leave by removing or limiting these elements from their property. A true scavenger, the coyote will eat almost anything from sheep, poultry and deer, to snakes, rodents and rabbits as well as domestic cats and dogs, along with fruits and vegetables and just plain garbage.

Coyotes primarily hunt rodents and rabbits for food and play an important role in the ecosystem, by helping to keep these species populations under control. Coyotes by their very nature are fearful of humans. If a coyote gains access to food or garbage it may create a deadly situation relating to a food source where their behavior changes and they lose caution and fear, resulting in conflicts with domestic pets or possible injuries to small children.

The coyotes' range covers the entire state of California. Most conflicts occur along the borders between urban and wild areas. Relocating a problem coyote is not an option because it only transfers the problem to someone else's neighborhood. Coyotes are mainly active during the nighttime, but they can be moving at any time during the day. Most sightings of coyotes occur during the hours close to sunrise and sunset. Adult coyotes weigh between 20 and 45 pounds.

Here are some steps you can take to reduce the chance of human-coyote conflicts:

• Never feed coyotes!
• Don't leave small children unattended outside if coyotes have been frequenting the area.
• Remove sources of water, particularly in dry climates.
• Install motion-sensitive lighting around your home.
• Trim ground-level shrubbery to reduce hiding places.
• Be aware that coyotes are more active in the spring, when feeding and protecting their young.
• Discourage coyotes from frequenting your area. If you start seeing coyotes around your home or property, chase them away by shouting, making loud noises or throwing rocks.
• Put garbage in tightly closed containers that cannot be tipped over.
• Feed pets indoors whenever possible; pick up any leftovers if feeding outdoors.
• Keep pets safely confined and provide secure nighttime housing for them.
• Pick up fallen fruit from trees and cover compost piles.
• Ask your neighbors to follow these tips.

These steps may decrease the frequency of coyote sightings in your area if practiced continuously. However, coyotes are adaptable to change and are quick to learn new ways of survival. Occasional sightings will occur. Making life for coyotes in your neighborhood more difficult will increase the likelihood that they will go somewhere else.

Ducks

From the late February and into August, Corona Animal Services & Enforcement receives many phone calls from residents who are concerned about the well-being of ducks who have selected, what appear to be strange locations to nest and raise their young. Many calls are received regarding a mother duck and ducklings crossing the road, or ducks nesting around a backyard swimming pool. Some calls are from residents who feel the presence of ducks at a private residence is a nuisance, and should be removed.

This information is intended to help explain duck behavior, the laws protecting ducks and other migratory birds, and how to determine if a duck should be impounded for health and safety reasons.
There are many species of ducks that migrate through Riverside County. The most common species is the Mallard. During the breeding season, males have a beautiful, glossy green head with a narrow white collar. They have a chestnut breast, a white tail, yellow bill and orange feet. The females look completely different, for they are mottled brown with a whitish tail. A female’s bill is dark and patched with orange and their feet are orange. They, as well as males, have a prominent violet blue stripe bordered with white on the lower edge of their wings.

Through the mating months of January and February, mates are chosen and nesting areas are located. Mallards usually nest close to water. In urban areas, this usually means ponds, swimming pools, fountains, flood control channels and other very unusual locations. After nesting, both the male and female stay near the nest to defend it.

Females usually lay about 8-10 eggs. After four weeks, the eggs hatch and the mother will take the ducklings to water, even if it means walking across a busy intersection. Females will aggressively protect their young so the entire brood should be avoided. In 10-12 weeks, the ducklings can sustain flight and will soon flyaway and join other ducks that have completed the cycle.

Federal law strictly prohibits interfering with nesting ducks. Corona Animal Services & Enforcement will not ignore Federal law concerning migratory waterfowl. Heavy fines are levied against anyone who violates the Federal Migratory Waterfowl Act.

Once a nest is made, it cannot be interfered with and nature must be allowed to take its course. If a pair has selected your yard in which to nest, enjoy this natural occasion and in a few short weeks, the ducks and ducklings will be gone. If your pool is selected as a water source, place a screen in front of your filter opening so the ducklings will not be harmed and enjoy the show.

In any instance of an injured duck, it is appropriate for Animal Services & Enforcement to be called. An officer will respond and appropriate actions will be taken. Be aware however, that many times the appropriate response will be to remove only the injured duck and leave the rest alone. Should a mother duck and ducklings be crossing a busy street, Animal Services & Enforcement should be contacted so both human life and the ducks can be protected.

Steps to prevent ducks from nesting in undesirable areas should be taken prior to the arrival of duck mating season. The following is a list of steps, which may be taken to discourage ducks from making a backyard area a nesting site:

• Cover swimming pools during the nesting season.
• Allow beach or pool balls to float on the surface of pools, ponds or fountains
• Clear away foliage from around water sources to eliminate a protected nesting area.
• Enclose above ground decks with skirting to eliminate a nesting site.