California backyards are full of surprises, and some wild animals show up more often than you might think. These 14 creatures are commonly spotted, whether you’re in the city or the suburbs.
I’ve had a few close encounters myself, and it’s always a mix of fascination and caution. Keep an eye out—your backyard might be hosting some unexpected visitors.
1. Coyotes
These clever canines have adapted remarkably well to suburban California life. Coyotes roam neighborhoods from San Diego to Sacramento, hunting small prey and occasionally snacking from pet food bowls left outside.
California wildlife officials remind residents that coyotes are most active at dawn and dusk. Keep small pets supervised outdoors and eliminate food sources to discourage these wild visitors from making themselves at home.
2. Raccoons
Masked bandits of the night, raccoons thrive throughout California’s urban areas. Their dexterous paws can open latches, tip garbage cans, and create impressive messes while searching for an easy meal.
Many California homeowners wake to scattered trash and evidence of nocturnal visitors. Securing garbage cans with bungee cords and removing outdoor pet food at night helps discourage these intelligent creatures from becoming regular guests.
3. Black Bears
For residents in California’s mountain communities, black bears represent both wonder and worry. These massive mammals wander through neighborhoods in search of easy meals, especially during drought years when natural food sources become scarce.
Throughout Northern California’s Sierra region, homeowners report bears opening car doors and even entering homes. Wildlife experts recommend bear-proof trash containers and removing bird feeders during active seasons to prevent unwanted encounters.
4. Deer
Graceful but destructive, deer frequently visit California gardens for midnight snacking. Mule deer in particular love to sample landscape plants, leaving frustrated homeowners with nibbled shrubs and missing flowers.
Across California’s woodland-adjacent communities, deer-resistant plantings have become necessary. Motion-activated sprinklers offer a humane deterrent for these beautiful animals that, despite their charm, can quickly devastate carefully tended California gardens.
5. Skunks
Few backyard visitors inspire more caution than skunks with their distinctive black and white pattern. These nocturnal creatures waddle through California neighborhoods searching for insects, grubs, and other small prey in lawns and gardens.
California homeowners from Eureka to San Bernardino often discover small cone-shaped holes in their lawns, evidence of skunks digging for grubs. While beneficial for pest control, their powerful defensive spray makes most residents prefer to admire them from a distance.
6. Opossums
Nature’s cleanup crew, opossums shuffle through California yards after dark. These marsupials consume thousands of ticks yearly and help control garden pests, making them surprisingly beneficial backyard visitors despite their somewhat unsettling appearance.
Throughout California’s coastal communities, opossums thrive in urban environments. Their immune system naturally resists snake venom and rabies, making these misunderstood creatures valuable allies in controlling dangerous pests around California homes.
7. Bobcats
Elusive and magnificent, bobcats occasionally venture into California neighborhoods bordering natural areas. Roughly twice the size of house cats, these spotted felines primarily hunt rabbits and rodents, helping keep pest populations under control.
Lucky California residents from Malibu to Mount Shasta might glimpse these secretive cats at dawn or dusk. Bobcats typically avoid human interaction, quickly retreating when spotted, making any backyard sighting a rare and special wildlife moment.
8. Mountain Lions
California’s apex predator occasionally makes headlines with suburban appearances. These powerful cats generally avoid human contact but may pass through neighborhoods adjacent to wilderness areas, especially when following deer populations.
Residents in California’s foothill communities sometimes capture these majestic cats on security cameras. Wildlife officials recommend motion-activated lighting, securing pet food, and supervising children and pets outdoors in areas where mountain lion sightings occur.
9. Wild Turkeys
Strutting boldly through California neighborhoods, wild turkeys have adapted surprisingly well to suburban environments. These large birds travel in flocks, scratching for insects and seeds in yards and occasionally causing traffic jams when crossing streets.
Northern California communities particularly experience turkey visits during mating season. While generally harmless, male turkeys can become territorial during spring, leading some California homeowners to develop creative strategies for redirecting these feathered visitors away from porches and driveways.
10. Rabbits
Cottontail rabbits hop through California gardens at dawn and dusk, delighting observers while simultaneously frustrating gardeners. These small mammals reproduce quickly, turning occasional sightings into regular backyard residents within a single season.
Throughout California’s inland valleys, rabbits feast on tender vegetables and flowers. Wire mesh barriers around garden beds offer the most effective protection against these cute but destructive California natives that can quickly decimate a vegetable garden.
11. Foxes
The gray fox’s rusty-sided coat might catch your eye as it trots through California neighborhoods hunting for rodents. These medium-sized canids climb trees with remarkable agility, sometimes even denning in tree cavities or abandoned structures.
Across California’s diverse regions, foxes help control rodent populations naturally. Homeowners in places like Sonoma County often report these beautiful animals at dawn or dusk, moving silently through yards while hunting mice and voles.
12. Hummingbirds
California gardens buzz with the jewel-like presence of Anna’s and Allen’s hummingbirds year-round. These tiny aerial acrobats defend flowering plants and feeders with surprising aggression, diving and chattering at intruders many times their size.
Throughout the Golden State, dedicated bird enthusiasts maintain special feeders for these remarkable flyers. California’s mild climate allows hummingbirds to remain year-round in many regions, bringing flashes of iridescent color to backyards from San Diego to Redding.
13. Western Fence Lizards
Known for their distinctive push-up displays, these blue-bellied lizards scurry across California patios and rock walls. They serve as important ecological players by reducing Lyme disease—ticks that feed on them lose their ability to transmit the illness.
Across sunny California yards, these reptiles help control insect populations naturally. Gardeners from Mendocino to San Bernardino often welcome these beneficial creatures that consume flies, mosquitoes, and other bothersome insects while adding charm to outdoor spaces.
14. Barn Owls
Silent night hunters, barn owls patrol California neighborhoods after dark. Their ghostly white forms glide noiselessly between trees as they hunt rodents, making them valuable natural pest controllers for homeowners troubled by mice or rats.
Throughout California’s agricultural communities, farmers and suburban residents install owl boxes to attract these beneficial birds. A single barn owl family can consume thousands of rodents annually, providing California homeowners with free, environmentally friendly pest management services.