A mother cow stands with her two calves on a hillside at Las Trampas Wilderness Regional Preserve near San Ramon in 2021. Cows and their new offspring are prevalent along East Bay Regional Park District trails at this time of year, but parks officials are asking the public not to get too close, for everyone's safety. (Wayne Hsieh/Flickr, CC BY-NC)

The East Bay Regional Park District is asking residents to avoid young cows and their mothers through calving season, which will end in October, according to the district.

Residents should not approach or touch calves, attempt to take selfies with them, allow their dogs near them or get between them and their mothers. Interactions with calves can be a danger to both people and grazing animals, according to the park district.

Residents should not worry if they see a calf by itself, as its mother is usually nearby.

However, if a calf appears to be in significant distress, or injured, sick or dead, it should be reported to park staff at 510-881-1833. Reports should include the location, color and ear tag number of the animal, if possible.

Grazing animals are part of the regional ecosystem and have been for tens of thousands of years, the park district said. Conservation grazing is still used to maintain a healthy ecosystem for native plants and wildlife, while reducing wildfire risks.

Cattle, sheep and goats graze over 86,800 acres of parkland — about the size of Atlanta — annually, mostly during winter and early spring.