Residents Discuss Coyote Problems With Animal Control Staff

Concerned about increased coyote sightings in the West San Fernando Valley, about 60 residents met Monday with animal control experts to discuss ways to protect pets and children.

The public meeting at El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills was arranged by Los Angeles City Councilwoman Laura Chick in response to about two dozen calls from citizens complaining about coyotes.

“Something has changed, that is the issue,” said Bob Eisenhart, a 12-year Woodland Hills resident who complained about coyotes in his back yard. “They are coming in and just laying around.”

The gathering provided residents with an opportunity to ask coyote experts from the city’s Department of Animal Regulation about ways to fend off the wolf-like animal.

Several in the audience asked why coyotes cannot be trapped and then relocated. Officials said that under state law, coyotes cannot be relocated and must be destroyed after being trapped.

At several moments the meeting became emotionally charged when audience members argued about who was responsible for the coyote problem.

Experts say the increased sightings are partially due to the end of city trappings and a general increase in the animal population attributable, in part, to a better food supply.

But Animal Regulation officials said common-sense precautions will minimize coyote problems: never feeding them, covering trash bins, fencing yards on brushy slopes and keeping small pets inside at night.

“You just can’t be too careful,” said Animal Regulation Officer Dennis Kroeplin. “I just can’t over-stress that.”

The city department’s board of commissioners voted in June--at the urging of wildlife activists--to ban all coyote trapping by its employees.

Los Angeles County animal control officials continue to provide trapping services in unincorporated areas for a fee.

In the 12-month period ending in June, the city received more than 500 requests from residents for coyote trapping. At the same time, there were 218 attacks on pets reported in the city.