Fee Backed for Coyote Trapping

In the latest development in a long controversy, a Los Angeles city panel recommended Monday charging residents $200 to have animal regulation officers trap and kill coyotes that venture into residential areas.

The recommendation by the City Council’s Public Safety Committee is part of a new coyote-trapping policy that was created following clashes between animal-rights activists and residents who were frustrated with growing reports of coyote attacks on pets, particularly in the San Fernando Valley.

Animal-rights activists urged city officials to ban trapping, saying the city should instead educate people on ways to coexist with area wildlife. But some residents asked for more trapping to help eliminate coyote problems.

In an effort to accommodate both sides, the city’s Animal Regulations Commission adopted a policy in June to charge residents a fee to have animal regulation officials set traps, but only after property owners meet certain conditions, such as putting up fences to deter coyote attacks.

Lila Brooks, director of California Wildlife Defenders and a longtime opponent of coyote trapping, urged the panel to increase the fee to at least $600 to discourage residents from requesting traps.

“I’m suggesting that coyote trapping is unnecessary,” she said.

Animal regulation officials also asked the Public Safety Committee on Monday to allow them to fill six vacant positions to help implement the new coyote policy. Due to staff shortages, animal regulation officials say they have been unable to launch the new policy.

The committee declined to vote on the staff decision and sent the matter to committees on personnel and financing.