Coyote Program Educates Arcadians

COYOTES IN OUR MIDST PROGRAM AT ARBORETUM

Approximately 250 people attended an educational program in Arcadia last week to learn about coyote behavior and how to coexist with the coyote in the midst of habitat destruction. The program, “Coyotes in Our Midst”, focused on coyote ecology, tips for discouraging coyote activity in neighborhoods, how to protect pets, and the ineffectiveness of trapping coyotes. The audience also learned that indiscriminate coyote control programs fail to reduce conflicts over the long term and may actually exacerbate the situation by removing non-offending resident coyotes.
Featured speakers, Dale Bartlett, Deputy Manager for public policy campaigns at the Humane Society of the United States, and Erin E. Boydston, PhD, Research Ecologist with the US Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center in the Santa Monica Mountains region presented data showing that cruel and lethal trapping programs are wholly ineffective as a means of controlling the coyote population.
Bartlett, who has been involved in animal protection for twenty years at the federal, state and local levels, pointed out that managing people’s behavior is a key component to coexisting with coyotes, noting the importance of not feeding wildlife or leaving pet food outdoors, securing garbage, and picking up fallen fruit from trees. He stressed always keeping small companion pets indoors and to protect and supervise all pets when outside. A coyote can be deterred from the area by yelling loudly, waving your arms, blowing a whistle or using a small air horn. He noted that education and raising public awareness is the key to a peaceful coexistence with wildlife as demonstrated successfully by many of the surrounding communities.
In addition to Bartlett’s and Boyd’s presentation, there was a viewing of the compelling award winning documentary film “American Coyote~ Still Wild at Heart.”
The evening concluded with a question and answer period. Bartlett and Boydston along with Steve McNall, President & CEO of Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA, and Ashley Hermanns, Wildlife Officer from the Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA, fielded questions from the audience.
The educational event was presented by San Gabriel Valley Friends of Wildlife, Project Coyote, the Animal Welfare Institute, and Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA. The event was organized in the wake of the Arcadia City Council’s un-televised special session decision last August to undertake a costly $30,000 contract with Animal Pest Management Services. The method used is a wire snare baited trap so that when an animal moves toward the bait the neck is caught. The noose tightens as the animal struggles creating swelling in the brain termed “jelly head”. If the animal is still alive when the trapper returns the trapper then kills the animal. Trappers’ own descriptions of caught animals are graphic and disturbing. No coyotes are released because it is against state law to do so. The Council’s trapping decision was made after a number of residents complained that coyotes were venturing into their neighborhoods and took pets. One of the residents requesting the city take action told Bee Simpson, a member of San Gabriel Valley Friends of Wildlife, that a neighbor was feeding feral cats and coyotes. Within a few months after this resident moved the complaints began. In addition there are reports of another person in the same neighborhood feeding skunks. On Tuesday, December 7, at a special meeting of the Arcadia City Council there was a study session regarding the posting of no feeding wildlife signs throughout Arcadia. SGVFW considers this a positive step and appreciates that the council placed it on the agenda.
As of the end of November, 18 coyotes including two juveniles have been killed by the snares. A domestic cat was also reported caught. The trapper claims the cat was uninjured and released but the SGVFW cannot confirm this. It also is not known how many other domestic and “non target” animals such as cats, dogs, raccoons and other wildlife have been maimed or injured by the snares. The scientific and humane communities agree that traps and snares are indiscriminate and many times missing pets could be victims of snares while the blame is mistakenly placed on the coyotes. The city of Arcadia has a clause in the contract with the pest management company to terminate the trapping with a 30-day notice which they have been strongly urged to do.
For further information on the “Coyotes in Our Midst” event or to learn how you can help prevent cruel and inhumane wildlife trapping methods call the San Gabriel Friends of Wildlife at 626-737-6171 or visit Project Coyote’s website@ www.projectcoyote.org.

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