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Over 1000 Residents Voice Consternation with Arcadia City Council’s Controversial Coyote Trapping Program –
Arcadia Weekly Jan 05, 2011
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The Arcadia City Council meeting Tuesday went on a little longer than usual due to a heavy agenda. Aside from accolades to a Rose Princess the city finally decided to hold an open study session later this month to take another look at the contentious coyote trapping program thanks to public pressure.
More than 20 local animal rights’ activists decended upon city hall Tuesday evening. Sarah Rosenberg presented a petition to council members with signatures of more than 1,000 Arcadia residents who vehemently oppose the program that has garned a great deal of media attention.
“ Only two coyotes were trapped in the last month,” said Councilman Gary Kovacic. “Fiscally speaking, I ‘m not sure it makes much sense to continue (trapping) …. my preference would be to suspend it (trapping) at this time.” Kovacic concluded.
Of the six speakers took to the podium on behalf of the animals, Dr. Bob Cooper, a Peadiatric Oncologist passionately spoke of the cruelty of the trapping program. He, his wife Sarah Rosenberg and their three young children moved from South Pasadena to Arcadia for the schools. Dr. Cooper said he would have hoped the city spend that money on education rather t5hat coyote trapping when cuts seem to be the norm in school districts statewide. Council advised Dr. Cooper that the school district and city are two separate entities and money for schools is controlled by school board and the state.
“It’s wonderful” said Bonnie Barron of the decision to have an open forum on the trapping. In a telephone interview Wednesday morning, Barron said she was very pleased with the amount of support and that the eduacational outreach seems to have worked. Barron, a member of San Gabriel Valley Friends of Wildlife, who was responding to the fact that the city of Arcadia finally is listening to the concerns of animal rights and not just shrugging it under the carpet.
Once trapped, the coyotes are euthanized since state law prohibit’s the animals from being relocated. To date 18 adult coyotes and 2 pups have been killed by the traps according to Barron.
The study session, which will be open to the public, is the next council meeting on January 18th. Council members could choose to suspend the program at that time.
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