Tears for Lost Pet, Not for Coyotes
After reading Bob Pool’s article (Oct. 16) concerning the use of jaw traps to control our coyote population, I agree with Heather Davis, an attendant at the Agoura Animal Shelter, who said, “It was disgusting, really sick.”
Her comment was in reference to the female coyote that, when trapped, gnawed off its left rear leg above its paw in order to escape. I also agree with state humane officer Barbara Fabricant’s statement that the jaw trap should be outlawed.
What I disagree with is our solution to what has been called a growing coyote problem by a few people. We’ve hired county trappers to capture the coyotes in leg traps--the toothless kind--and shoot them. I believe a more humane solution would be to capture the unwanted coyotes and transport them to an area where the encroachment of man has not destroyed their natural habitat.
If we could use relocation as a means of taking care of a few problem coyotes, then I believe we could find better uses for the steel jaw traps. We could use it on drug dealers. After all, one drug dealer creates more destruction to mankind in one day than all of the coyotes combined have in recorded history.
JOHN LACCINOLE
Calabasas
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