(Oct. 17, 2015, 11:35 p.m.) -- LBREPORT.com has learned that a rash of recent coyote sightings in the Naples area -- including reports of some coyotes traveling in a group and at least one visible cat killing -- have a number of residents alarmed and seeking a forceful city response.

Two days ago, LBREPORT.com received information from a credible source (a firsthand/witness account) of coyotes on Naples Island -- including an incident on Thurs. Oct. 15 at about 7 a.m. in which coyotes were sighted in a group on Via De Roma near The Toledo. "One just trotted casually down the street, and there were three coyotes on The Toledo at Via Del Roma," our source says. "Neighbors were outside commenting on how many they'd seen...A lot of people called animal control and they never showed up" [to the residents' knowledge.]

LBREPORT.com is separately aware of reports appearing on a "coyote watch" Facebook page (whose participants have urged a more forceful city response including trapping/killing coyotes.) [Their Facebook page is closed to non-members and has blocked us (and some other reporters) from directly following their newsworthy dispatches; we manage to follow their reports as newsworthy using alternative means.]

[Scroll down for further.]

On Saturday (Oct. 17), a coyote-watch Facebook page member sent this dispatch: "Coyote sighting. Rivo Alto Canal and The Toledo bridge. Had a cat in its mouth. Headed east on the Toledo toward the Yacht Club. 20 min later neighbors reported dead cat body in yard. When they went out to clean it up three more coyotes appeared and they tried to have [apparently meant haze] but felt threatened by the pack. Cat body parts found further down the road." The Facebook page member emailed a number of city officials, described what had taken place...and continued:

I've lived here 20 years and never seen anything like this. It is like living in a 3rd world country right now. People feel like they can't even go outside at night or in the early morning. They are afraid not only of what might happen, but what they might see...I was walking my dog when neighbors stopped me to tell me about this. As a taxpayer and homeowner, I am more than concerned...We need action not rhetoric.

Advertisement

Advertisement

The resident's dispatch received 31 Facebook "likes" within a few hours; as for the tone of the dispatches, see excerpts below (some are responses from the same person in the thread.):

[T]his scares the hell out of me, and mad as hell too.

I couldn't agree more. It is insane living this way!!!!

They need to be destroyed!!!

Just seems like the progression of what is "coexistence". Sadly, the next thread will be "Long Beach follows Irvine in attacks". When will people become angered enough to stand outside city hall and chant "our safety matters"? This is only going to become more frequent and escalated...

So with the cities [sic] failure to act and protect the citizens and their pets, I see lawsuits are coming. Let's hit them where it hurts. In the wallets.

The property taxes we have to pay here should cover the city doing their job and getting rid of these creatures. I am getting protection.

We keep hearing that the coyotes can't be touched because their presence in the Naples area is normal and a part of living here. Well, I've lived here since 1947 and no one ever mentioned "coyote" until 5 years ago. This is a new problem and also disturbingly unique in that the coyotes are exhibiting behavior not even normal to them, like hunting at 11:30 AM. I do not think they should be protected as "native wildlife" and the City needs to address the issue in an aggressive manner.

As things are now Coyotes are classified as a Nuisance Animal just as Raccoons..Opossums..etc. .Personally I have yet to find anyone who would classify losing a pet as a "Nuisance"....I never have understood the reasoning in that classification ...Must be so no one has to deal with it...UNTIL NOW....This is just crazy....

Never was the norm and we're going to stop it any way we have to from being the norm. Did you get that Press Telegram?

...Even in the wild if they come to close to humans and their property they are considered nuisance animals and are destroyed.

I'm concerned nothing will be done until a child is injured & I sincerely hope I'm wrong.

Every district should start a recall for their council member. Lack of performance to protect their constituents. That is the ONLY way we'll see action. Guaranteed...

I am ready to picket and march on city hall if anyone wants to join me.

Count me in.

How horrible! It's like we live on the Serengeti any more instead of a civilized, urban city...We have to get right in their faces on this...

Scroll down for further

Advertisement

Advertisement

The development comes as LB's Animal Care Services department is finalizing a Coyote Management Plan -- a draft of which has been online for public review for nearly a year -- and may or may not make changes to the draft text in response to public input and updated data.

The developing-finalizing plan comes after the Council voted 9-0 on Aug. 11 to "receive and file" (take no Council directed action) on an item agendized by Councilwoman Stacy Mungo that, as plainly restated by Councilman Al Austin, lets Animal Care Services receive additional public comment...and lets Animal Care Services [not the Council] revise, finalize and implement the plan as it deems advisable without further Council action.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Councilwoman Mungo's original motion (with co-agendizers Uranga and Supernaw, who didn't speak) generated over two hours of sharply split public testimony -- some strongly opposed to trapping/killing coyotes (some saying data show it's ineffective), others disputing the data and citing specific examples of increased coyote encounters, fearing for the safety of their pets, their children and the elderly, some saying they feel trapped in their homes and the City should do something more than it's doing now.

Sept. 5: LB Animal Care Services responds to the 3300 block of Ladoga Ave. (east of Palo Verde, south of Wardlow, zip 90808) after a coyote attacked and killed a cat on a resident's front lawn.

As previously reported by LBREPORT.com, LB's Dept. of Animal Care Services recently released the map (below) and comparative data chart by zip code showing various levels of reported coyote encounters. The map (below) covers the period from Jan. 1, 2015 through Sept. 9, 2015. The data chart (below) displays data from Jan. 1, 2013 through Sept. 9, 2015.

The data chart (below) indicates a major increase in coyote sightings in 90808 in 2015 (year to date) compared to 2014 (full year), while sightings had dropped significantly in 90803 -- at least through Sept. 9, 2015 -- compared to 2014 (full year).

(It's not immediately clear if the increase in 90808 in 2015 results from better resident reporting or a genuine increase in coyote numbers...or both (since they're not inconsistent.)

Another numerical caveat: 2015 numbers may be understated; LB ACS says "In March and April 2015, the online coyote report form was temporarily unavailable."

Coyote Report Jan 1/Sept 9, 2015

As previously reported by LBREPORT.com, the LB ACS draft Coyote Management Plan is quite similar to a Coyote Management Plan adopted in March 2015 by voted action of the Seal Beach City Council.

In Sept. 2014, the Seal Beach Council initially conducted roughly four weeks of trapping/killing coyotes and other measures (including education and eliminating attractants.) Seal Beach's implemented Coyote Management Plan defines "Level Red" as: "A coyote that has been involved in an investigated and documented provoked or unprovoked close encounter or attack on humans. City staff may work to lethally remove the responsible coyote(s) after a thorough investigation of the incident(s).

Compare: Long Beach's draft verbiage defines "Level Red" as: "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)."

Long Beach's "Level Orange" response verbiage currently states:

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 2 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.