Joseph Galloway
Senior Field Deputy
Office of Councilmember Paul Koretz, 5th Council District [email protected]
Community Meeting with Animal Service re: Coyote concerns
The Department of Animal Services held a Wildlife Community meeting on July 27th at the WLA Animal Shelter.
The Department is well aware of the numerous sightings and concerns over Coyotes.
ATTACHED are minutes from the July 28, 2017 WLA Workshop.
From Mount St. Mary’s Campus Security Director:
Campus Security is alerting the community of a verified mountain lion sighting on two separate occasions on the Chalon Campus. The sightings have occurred in the early morning hours at the entrance to the university. The animal has not be seen beyond the main entrance security kiosk. We have notified California Department of Fish and Wildlife as part of our normal protocol. Should you see a mountain lion on campus, contact Campus Security immediately.
Michael McFatridge
Director of Campus Security
Title IX Lead Special Investigator
Division of Student Affairs
Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles
12001 Chalon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Chalon Campus- 310.954.4084 | [email protected]
Doheny Campus- 213.477.2995
www.msmu.edu
See the attached from Maya Davis Shemer In the past week I have had two dead and dying rats on our property. I believe that this is due to the use of poison. There are better ways to deal with rats and poison is detrimental to our environment, other animals and birds of prey, and also to us! Please use another form of rodent control and read below for more information as to why you should not use poison.
Rats cause extensive damage to property, and carry diseases and parasites. Most people opt to use rat poison to rid their homes and properties of rodents. Before you decide to use this method, consider the dangers associated with rat poison.
Also attached is a pamphlet from LA County Public Health with more suggestions on alternatives to rodenticides.
In addition to the dangers mentioned in the attached there is the deadly impact of bioamplification. With any poison (insecticide, herbicide or rodenticide) the poison will enter the food chain: the weed/pest is eaten by a bird(sparrow/pigeon)/mammal(gopher/squirrel/cow) which is eaten by a secondary predator such as a bird (owl/hawk/black bird)/mammal(raccoon, cat, coyote, human), the amount of poison is amplified.
When there is even a small amount of pesticide in the environment, it will enter the bodies of the animals that are low in the food chain – ex. grasshoppers
2. Even though there is only a small amount of the toxin in each grasshopper, the mouse will receive a larger amount of the toxin in its body because the shrew will eat many grasshoppers.
3. When the secondary consumer is eaten (shrews), the higher-level predator, the owl will get all of its toxins, plus those of all the other prey it eats.
Then the secondary predator such as the owl will be poisoned and will suffer the same fate as the lowly grasshopper. Yes, this is why humans – at the TOP of the food chain ingest toxins meant to increase our health & instead do long term damage to us and our children.
Be careful what you put on your lawn or put out for “pest” control.
From LA Department of Animal Services website
The Los Angeles Department of Animal Services has a Wildlife Division to aid residents in rectifying problems and some of the uneasiness that many people face with wildlife.
The City of Los Angeles does not own or have any control of wild animals found within its boundaries, nor is the City responsible for the actions or damage caused by them. There are no laws, policies or mandates requiring the Department to remove native wildlife. These animals are a common and important integral part of our ecosystem, biosphere and the circle of life. The Department of Animal Services was originally created to deal with problems arising from stray dogs and to enforce laws pertaining to them. Wildlife to a small degree has been included in the scope of the services that the Department provides as need has arisen due to encroachment on wild habitat which has resulted in wild animals being involved in distress situations in which they required rescue. Awareness through education is key in resolving conflicts with wildlife.
For further information, please contact:
Los Angeles Wildlife Program
North Central Animal Shelter
3201 Lacy Street, Los Angeles, CA 90031
(323) 225-WILD (9453)
or email [email protected]
If coyotes are spotted anywhere in Los Angeles we would greatly appreciate if the encounter could be logged in at one of these sites. If we know where they are then we can better monitor them.
Los Angeles has been home to coyotes since before the city was formed. The goal of the Urban Coyote Project, undertaken by the Santa Monica Mountains National Park Service, is to provide insight into the lives of coyotes living in LA, in order to identify ways to minimize future human wildlife conflict in a humane and effective manner, and to foster human co-existence with urban wildlife.
Two actions residents can take to help attain these goals:
1. If you see a live coyote in the city (even the hills) please FILE A SIGHTING REPORT (takes about 30 seconds)
2. If you spot road kill of ANY wildlife (coyote, bobcat, deer, skunk, fox, etc) please FILE A ROADKILL OBSERVATION REPORT
IT IS A MISDEMEANOR TO FEED WILD ANIMALS – ANY WILD ANIMALS!
From NextDoor 3/1/16
“I want to warn everyone that this evening at around 6 p.m., I was walking down Montana Ave. across from the Golf Course. I have lived here for 4 years and have heard coyotes many times. My landlord told me that they have lived in the golf course for decades.
But today was the first time I had actually seen one. He was in someone’s front yard. At first I thought it was a dog, but then saw the big, bushy tail. He was just staring at me. Then he crept into another person’s front yard. The disturbing thing about this is that many people jog, walk their small dogs and even have strollers with their babies inside. I passed several of these people on my way home, and warned them. I want to warn everyone here too.”
L.A. Animal Services offers tips for keeping your family safe:
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