Councilmember Mungo Joined By Councilmembers Supernaw and Uranga Seek Animal Care Services Report Within Thirty Days On "Mitigating" Coyotes (Unspoken: Could Include Trapping/Killing); Item Agendized For Aug. 11 Council Meeting

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(Aug. 3, 2015, 8:25 p.m.) -- Faced with a Facebook group several hundred persons strong that favors trapping and euthanizing/killing coyotes, and LB city management's Dept. of Animal Care Services which hasn't recommended such measures and has urged hazing coyotes and removing coyote attractants, 5th dist. Councilwoman Stacy Mungo has agendized an item for the Aug. 11 City Council meeting that would have City Hall's Dept. of Animal Care Services [agendizing memo text] "study the potential of establishing a coyote mitigation program to address the growing presence of coyotes in Long Beach and to report back to City Council within thirty (30) days."

Councilwoman Mungo's agenda item, which is joined by Councilmembers Daryl Supernaw and Roberto Uranga, doesn't say exactly what "mitigating" coyotes means...but invites the inference that it either means or includes trapping and killing coyotes. The memo's background text notes (as previously reported by LBREPORT.com) that the City of Seal Beach began trapping and euthanizing coyotes in September 2014 and says that after coyotes attacked four children in Irvine recently, officials captured and euthanized nine coyotes and launched a "Wildlife Watch" program."

The memo also includes a reference to trapping in stating that "ACS has reported potential costs associated with the establishment of a mitigation program that could include an initial assessment survey costing between $2,500 and $5,000 as well as $2,500 to $5,000 for the use of four to eight traps over the course of two weeks." Under current state law, once a coyote is trapped it can't be relocated; it can only be euthanized (killed) [or set free where they were trapped.]

Notwithstanding those clues, Councilwoman Mungo's agendizing memo text doesn't state exactly what the "coyote mitigation program" would do or not do "to address the growing presence of coyotes in Long Beach." The memo's full text is visible at this link....and (as with all Council agenda items) Councilmembers could tweak or amend its recommended action at the Aug. 11 Council meeting.

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As agendized, the Councilmembers' Aug. 11 agenda item doesn't commit to pursuing a trapping/killing program, only to have the City's Dept. of Animal Care Services -- which hasn't previously recommended such an action -- conduct a study and report back to the Council in 30 days with results. At that time, a Council majority would decide what action(s) to pursue as a policy matter.

Attached to the Councilmembers' agendizing memo is a copy of a 22-page draft Coyote Management Plan prepared months ago by LB Animal Care Services [previously reported by LBREPORT.com and visible here, which recommends hazing, human education and other measures it says can deter or minimize coyote interactions.

Whether a LB Council majority will ultimately opt to implement ACS' draft Coyote Management measures, or (after receiving ACS' report on "mitigating" coyotes) direct that the City begin trapping/killing coyotes, or pursue some combination of both or take other action(s), will be decided by a Council majority.

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As previously reported by LBREPORT.com, the issue was highly polarizing when it reached the Seal Beach City Council in September 2014. After sharply conflicting public testimony, Seal Beach Councilmembers voted unanimously to approve a short-term "Coyote Management Plan" to trap and euthanize/kill coyotes immediately [hiring a private firm to do so] along with efforts to pursue a regional plan to deal with coyotes; fines residents who feed wildlife or leave food out for pets. cracks down on property owners who leave trash containers uncovered and seeks to repair and improve city and other infrastructure (such as fences and channels) that allow coyotes access to populated areas.. [For LBREPORT.com Sept. 2014 coverage, click here.]

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As previously reported by LBREPORT.com, webpostings on a "Coyote Watch Long Beach, Lakewood, Bellflower" Facebook page (700+ page members) want something done that goes beyond what the City is doing now. The group's page is closed...and our effort to join in which we disclosed we're a reporter was blocked by a member on grounds we're a reporter. Accordingly, it's not immediately clear what the group thinks of the Mungo-Supernaw-Uranga agenda item. [When we learn it, we'll report it.]

In general, postings on the "Coyote Watch Long Beach" Facebook page [whose content we learned through alternative means] voice dissatisfaction -- some in very strong terms -- with current City of LB coyote practices...and generally want more done to get the coyotes out of neighborhoods and keep them out. Some group members refer to wildlife advocates and others holding a contrary viewpoint as "co-existers" in variously describing their recommended measures ineffective and insufficient.

The item is agendized for the Aug. 11 Council meeting...when it is expected to collide with a high visibility item agendized by four Councilmembers to pay for a study on the risks/benefits of adopting a minimum wage in Long Beach.

As with all Long Beach Council meetings, LBREPORT.com will carry video of the proceedings LIVE on our front page: www.LBREPORT.com. The Aug. 11 meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m.

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