A PressTelegram story indicates that 5th district Councilwoman Stacy Mungo now plans to agendize an item for the Aug. 11 City Council meeting recommending that LB Animal Care Services [PT text] "create a potential 'coyote mitigation committee'" to address the coyote issue and report back to the Council within 30 days.

LBREPORT.com doesn't know what a "potential" committee is and doesn't know firsthand exactly what Councilwoman Mungo has in mind by "mitigating" coyotes. Does it necessarily mean, or only possibly include, trapping and killing them? [LBREPORT.com sought information on the agenda item via email to Councilwoman Mungo (late p.m. July 28) and to her office (email and voice mail early a.m. July 29, office staff contact afternoon) prior to publishing this story; our requests remain pending.

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As previously reported by LBREPORT.com, in September 2014, the Seal Beach City Council voted unanimously to approve a short-term "Coyote Management Plan" that began short term trapping [and euthanized killing] of coyotes immediately [hired 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.

The Long Beach City Council (which sets LB city policy) hasn't directed the trapping and killing of coyotes and the City's Department of Animal Care Services hasn't recommended it. LB's Dept. of Animal Care Services has prepared a detailed draft Coyote Management Plan -- visible on the Department's website at this link -- and brought it to at least three eastern LB neighborhood groups for presentations/discussions over the past several months.

LB Animal Care Service's draft Coyote Management Plan states in its Executive Summary:

Management Strategy
City strategy for managing coyotes is based on balancing respect and protection for wildlife and their habitats without compromising public safety. The strategy is comprised of a three pronged approach consisting of (1) public education designed around co-existence with coyotes, (2) enforcement of laws and regulations prohibiting the feeding of wildlife and (3) ensuring public safety by implementing appropriate tiered responses to coyote and human interactions. This plan requires active participation on the part of the entire community including residents, homeowners associations, volunteers and city personnel.

Education
Education is the key to having residents make appropriate decisions regarding their safety, or managing their property and pets. This involves decreasing attractants, increasing pet safety, reshaping coyote behavior through hazing and creating reasonable expectations of normal coyote behavior.

Enforcement
The act of feeding wildlife is known to lead to an increase in wildlife activity. Feeding can attract coyotes and their prey to an area leading to an increased likelihood of creating a habituated coyote(s) resulting in increases in coyote and human interactions. California law prohibits feeding wildlife. Long Beach Animal Control Officers will enforce the State law(s) pertaining to this activity.

Response Plan
A detailed tiered response plan has been developed to provide a mechanism for identifying and classifying different levels of human and coyote interactions. Definitions of coyote encounters is listed in Appendix A and Appendix B provides a chart detailing coyote behavior, behavior classification and recommended responses.

Level Green: A coyote is seen or heard in an area. Sighting may be during the day or night. Coyote may be seen moving through the area or seen resting in one place. Education and hazing needed.

Level Yellow: A coyote appears to frequently associate with humans or human related food sources, and exhibits little wariness of human presence, including unattended domestic animal loss. Coyote is seen during the day resting or continuously moving through an area frequented by people. Education and aggressive hazing needed, volunteer hazing team created.

Level Orange: A coyote is involved in an incident(s) where there is an attended domestic animal loss. Coyote entering a dwelling or yard where people are present, or acting aggressively towards people. Several level orange type incidents in the same general area may indicate the presence of a habituated coyote(s). Education and aggressive hazing needed, volunteer hazing team created, public awareness of incident(s) and circumstances discussed. If multiple level orange incidents have occurred in the same vicinity within a short amount of time, lethal removal may be recommended.

Level Red: A coyote that has been involved in an investigated and documented provoked or unprovoked attack on a human. City staff will notify California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW). City staff will work with DFW to locate and eliminate the responsible coyote(s). The attached comprehensive plan provides the guidelines for implementation.

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LBREPORT.com has learned that the draft plan was rolled out in late 2014 at a 3rd dist. Council meeting at the LB Yacht club. A few months ago, it was presented at Councilman Daryl Supernaw's first monthly community meeting (June 2014) and at roughly the same time at a 5th district community meeting.

LBREPORT.com has had to overcome hurdles in trying to report the side of this issue represented by "Coyote Watch Long Beach." Its Facebook group 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. [We managed to obtain the information we report below through other means.] In general, its member postings indicate the FB group's members aren't satisfied with current City of LB coyote management practices and want more done.

A Facebook group member's posting tells other group members that Councilwoman Mungo has agreed to meet briefly with them regarding coyotes during Aug. 4 "National Night Out" events (neighborhood get-togethers focused on crime prevention.) The FB group member tells other group members to come prepared to listen to the Councilwoman's presentation and says time constraints won't allow the Councilwoman to participate in Q & A. The group member says Councilwoman Mungo has heard many stories of "pet attacks, brazen activity and numerous day and night sightings" and "you will find her to be more aware of the problem than we realize." When others apparently chafed at the lack of Q & A, the FB group member added, "I specifically asked Councilwoman Mungo to deviate from her normal 'meet and greet' persona at these annual events. I think we all want to hear what SHE has to say..." The group member urged other group members to attend the Aug. 11 City Council meeting and referred to those with a contrary viewpoint as "co-existers" and "other activists."

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Ted Stevens, Manager of LB Animal Care Services, indicates his agency has distributed fliers (text below) and directed residents to information on the agency's website at www.longbeach.gov/wildlife as well as a July 14 release ("Coyote Sightings Prompt Safety and Prevention Reminders") at at this link

City of Long Beach Coyote Warning

Mr. Stevens says that over the past several years, ACS has canvassed dozens of areas throughout Long Beach...and over the July 25-26 weekend, the agency canvassed an area near Prisk Elementary school (south of the 405 freeway by the Willow St. tunnel.) "We usually do several blocks in the area," Mr. Stevens said...and added:

"We encourage people to visit our website and get educated about coyotes and how they can help. Educate their neighbors, remove attractants, protect their pets, etc. Aggressive hazing by as many people as possible is needed to re-instill fear of humans."

In a July 14 release, LB Animal Care Services states at this link:

COYOTE SIGHTINGS PROMPT SAFETY AND PREVENTION REMINDERS

Seeing a coyote walking down a busy City street isn't as uncommon as most would think. Recent coyote activity around Long Beach and surrounding areas gives reason for reminding residents of important safeguards to protect pet lives and property against these wild animals.

Contrary to popular belief, coyotes do not require open space to survive, and have successfully adapted to living in close proximity to humans. Coyotes are most active at dusk and dawn, and in urban environments they are more active at night. However, they can be seen at any time of day.

An Animal Control Officer will respond to coyote calls if the coyote is sick or injured, out in the daytime in areas around people, especially children, such as parks or schools or anytime there is an attack or threatening behavior towards a person or pet.

According to the U.S. Humane Society, "Coyotes are found in every state of the nation, except for Hawaii". It is important to learn techniques to compassionately co-exist with coyotes and protect yourself and your pets." The following techniques are recommended:

• Never feed coyotes or any other wildlife.
• Keep pets, especially cats and small dogs, and pet food inside. If feeding outside, feed pets during the day (no more than one hour) and remove the food bowls when finished.
• Stay close to your pet when taking them outdoors and always keep them on a leash, especially from dusk through early morning hours.
• Remove fallen fruit from the ground.
• Bag food wastes such as meat scraps or leftover pet food.
• Keep trash in containers with tight-fitting lids.
• Use "hazing" techniques to shoo away coyotes, such as standing tall, yelling and waving arms while approaching the coyote; using a whistle, air horn, bell or other device; banging pots or pans together; stomping your feet; using a water hose, pepper spray, or throwing tennis balls or rocks at the coyote.
• Never run from a coyote.

For more information about coyotes go to www.longbeach.gov/acs.

Long Beach Animal Care Services is requesting the assistance of the community. By educating yourself and your neighbors and using hazing techniques to keep coyotes wild, you can help to establish a peaceful co-existence and help make Long Beach the safest large City for people and animals. Please contact us to obtain flyers to give to your neighbors or to schedule a speaker for a neighborhood watch or community meeting.

To report Coyote Sightings you can email animalcare@longbeach.gov or call Long Beach Animal Care Services at (562)570-7387(PETS) to determine if an Animal Control Officer is needed. If the coyote is posing an imminent threat to life, call 911.

Visit the Long Beach Animal Care Services web site at www.longbeach.gov/acs and become a friend on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LongBeachAnimalCare to keep up on the latest news for people and animals.

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Developing. Further to follow on LBREPORT.com.