Calif. city authorizes firm to shoot coyotes

Laguna Woods resident Karen Sherif, was attacked by a coyote and had her dog killed in the attack listens to comments at a Laguna Woods, Calif. City Council meeting, July 28, 2011. The council approved an emergency ordinance authorizing the discharge of firearms by trained wildlife depredation professionals in order to control a coyote infestation in the city limits. / Sam Gangwer,AP Photo/Orange County Register

TUSTIN, Calif. - On the shady paths of this sprawling Southern California retirement community, neighbors have been told to carry sticks.

The menace is a group of emboldened coyotes who have attacked leashed pets, killing two dogs in the last week and dragging down pet owners who rushed to their rescue.

On Thursday, the city of Laguna Woods voted to take matters into its own hands by authorizing professional exterminators or animal control experts who obtain permits to shoot the wild animals. Officials promptly issued a permit to one such firm, which is required to notify law enforcement within 10 minutes if any shots are fired, said Orange County Sheriff's Lt. Steve Doan.

The city — a network of gated retirement communities shrouded in trees — already has tried other tactics to round up the pack of roughly seven animals who, unlike most coyotes, don't scatter at the sight of humans.

Officials used pepper spray to disrupt trails and dens. Tranquilizer guns and traps were also utilized. But most of the coyotes have eluded capture.

"We just have not been able to catch the other four and the incidents just seem to be escalating," City Manager Leslie Keane said.

Coyotes are often a problem in the vast suburbs in Southern California where homes are built right up to creeks and foothills where the animals roam. But coyotes are perfectly content to live in urban environments where the food supply outstrips that of the wild — garbage, tree fruit, pet food and pets offer ample grub, said Kevin Brennan, a wildlife biologist with California's Department of Fish and Game.

Laguna Woods is unique because the city made up of retirees has a median age of 77 — which has local officials concerned that such a tussle could take a bigger toll.

But confrontations between coyotes and suburbanites aren't new. Jurisdictions including Riverside and the county of San Bernardino also have hired private firms to trap or shoot the animals when preventative measures to keep them out have failed, Brennan said.

"What happens is familiarity breeds contempt," he said, "The longer coyotes hang around people, they lose their fear and they start becoming more bold."

"Basically you should never allow a coyote to feel comfortable around your home. You should always scare it off."

In Laguna Woods, two women were injured in the last week when they were knocked over after coyotes pulled on leashes to maul their small pet dogs. City officials said they don't want to wait until someone gets attacked by a coyote to take action and state authorities only get involved when there an imminent threat to public safety.

One of the challenges is many retirees have smaller pets who keep them company. In the absence of their now-grown children, the dogs and cats often become family and are attractive to coyotes.

Rosemary Mlakar, an 81-year-old retired teaching assistant, said she was sad to learn a coyote had run off with one of two ducks that frequented a grassy area near where she lives. She said has noticed a change in her neighbors, too.

"I am concerned about going and taking walks," Mlakar said. "I don't see people walking their dogs like I did every morning."

But some in the community don't want to see the animals shot. Organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and some Laguna Woods residents have said the city could review other options before reaching for a gun.

"I love animals and coyotes are no exception," 61-year-old resident Bj Garnaus was quoted as saying in the Orange County Register.

Officials say the problem likely starts in communities where residents didn't take measures to keep coyotes away before they got aggressive. Local officials have found leftover meatloaf and mashed potatoes left outside, leading them to believe residents were feeding the wild animals, Keane said.

That would lure coyotes to retirees' homes instead of shooing them away.

Mayor Bert Hack said most coyotes run off when they see people. He said he recently spotted one take off down the street with a cat in its mouth.

"We have dealt with this — it waxes and it wanes," Hack said. "But when people get hurt, you tend to want to do something about it."

[magnumdr]

If there are so many cyotes and snakes why dont you just find another place to fo where you will be safe. I would never walk into a bears den or ever step into a cyotes grounds. If any person goes out into the woods or wild life areas expect to see wildlife. Thats where they live!

[skeezix06]

Coyotes are nocturnal and typically avoid people.

[skeezix06]

Personally, if they're dumb enough to okay shooting rifles around houses, I'd move out of town. Bullets don't stop once they get past their target. They keep going and hit anything in their way.

Coyotes? I have large dogs that would scare the pants off a coyote but I wouldn't leave a small dog out in the yard overnight any more than I would leave my chickens or pygmy goats out in the yard overnight. Just a thought. Not everything needs a gun.

[AlFranken]

If you exterminate the coyote you will have rattlesnake problems and you know there is a problem when there are as many rattlesnake sightings as coyotes in the wild---

As a hiker in the Santa Monica Mountains, I run into a lot more rattle snakes than before and this is because coyotes now prefer to hunt/forage around humans rather than take on the risky battle for rattlesnake meat.


It has become such a problem now, I almost don't want to hike anymore during the peak rattlesnake time.

Almost everyday for the last 5 days that I hiked the Triumfo Cyn trail in mid March, I had a run-in with a rattle snake and anyone that knows that area knows that coyotes are in an abundance in that area. We also know that there is no shortage of cats and small dogs as well.


But now, I have to walk around a rattlesnake sunbathing out in the open across a trail pretty often now and those slanted lines they leave for tracks are becoming so spooky that I just can't keep my eye off the forage next to the trail.

I always carry a long hiking stick and use it much like a blind man taping it on the ground in front of me in case one wants to strike.


So now coyotes do all there hunting in the early morning or just as the sun goes down and that is all.

They would have to wait till at least mid morning to get a rattlesnake.


I don't think the coyotes are the problem but rather irresponsible humans that think they don't need to adapt to the wildlife but always the other way around.

It's a shame.

[outwestbutnotca]

OMG! In California? They will have to import the guns from the UK. Shooting helpless predators? Now how politically incorrect is that? California? Wow.

[maiingan]

Shoot the pets. It's the responsibility of pet owners to protect their "property" and this includes all measures like feeding them inside, fencing yards to separate pets from coyotes, etc.

[AlFranken]

That's right.

But pet owners are lazy. Do you know why they buy dried pet food?

Because the poop is easier to clean up and it is designed not to attract flies and dry up faster and harder so that it shovels up easy.

So maybe you can buy Fido a big bucket that will hold enough dry food for a week and when you come home, you can pick up all the turds just before you mow the lawn.

But by that time, Maybe one of the female coyotes blew her heat scent in Fido's direction and Fido dug a hole under the fence and so bye bye Fido.


Happens all the time. Happened to my girlfriend's Mother's Maltese.