(July 13, 2008, text updated July 14) -- About two dozen sign-carrying demonstrators spent a muggy Sunday afternoon outside CSULB's 7th St. entrance protesting the administration's announced intention (first reported July 12 by the Press-Telegram) to curtail coyotes spotted on campus by eliminating a coyote food source: a colony of feral cats (estimated at between 100-150 by cat supporters) that have been on campus for years.

Volunteers (who say the cat colony is healthy, well maintained, has shots, etc.) say they were given 40 days from July 10 to round up the felines before Animal Control deal with remaining cats...most of whom would likely be euthanized.

An organizer of the protest, Leslie Abrahams, told LBReport.com that CSULB's coyote-abatement strategy has the wrong target:

"They want to execute the cats and we're here to stop that...We have probably two coyotes on campus and 100-150 cats. If you're worried about the coyotes, take care of the coyotes; don't kill the cats. We have other wildlife here: possums, racoons, squirrels and rabbits. We have a water source; we have trash. The coyotes are here anyway. When they're done with the cats, they'll keep movin' on. We see remains of wildlife all over this campus."

So what should CSULB do? To hear Ms. Abrahams' response, click here.

The demonstration drew L.A. media outlets KTLA/5 and (not visible in this shot) NBC4.

We heard a number of 7th St. horns honking in support.

Asked if they'd had any contacts with CSULB's administration on the matter, Ms. Abrahams said "no"...and said the administration communicates through a liaison who conveyed word of the administration's plan on July 10.

LBReport.com is working to get comment/reaction from CSULB administration spokespersons. Watch for further coming on this on LBReport.com.

[Update: Below is a statement issued July 11 by CSULB, obtained after our publication of the above piece].

For the first time in many years, coyotes have been sighted on the Cal State Long Beach campus. At the same time, the remains of several cats that live on the campus have been found.

University officials have contacted the California Department of Fish and Game which will conduct an investigation of the coyote activity on campus and advise the university on the appropriate next steps. The California Department of Fish and Game is the sole agency with authority to determine when and how to manage coyote populations.

The university’s first concern is for its campus community population, in particular those children who attend child care and the numerous summer camps on campus.

The feral cats on campus have been fed and well cared for by well-intentioned people, but the cats, unfortunately, tend to be clustered in communities around the multiple campus feeding stations, which apparently have been discovered and revisited by coyotes that have preyed on the feral cats.

California Fish and Game and animal behavior experts have advised the university that if a predictable source of prey is removed, the coyotes will typically move on. The experts have also advised the university that the removal of one or two coyotes would not preclude additional animals from coming to the campus so long as the prey remains.

While removal of the feral cat population on the campus is regrettable, the university has been advised that it is the best way to deter the coyotes from coming onto the campus, and it is the right course of action for protecting the university community.