Protection group questions coyote trapping policy

A national organization focused on animal and habitat protection claims the city of Laguna Beach is not following state law regarding coyote trapping.

Jean Su, staff attorney for the Oakland branch of the Center for Biological Diversity, sent Laguna officials a letter Jan. 14 requesting Critter Busters staff receive written permission from residents living within 150 yards of a coyote trap, regardless of whether the trap is placed on public or private property, to comply with the California Code of Regulations.

In a 4-1 vote Jan. 12, the City Council approved a year-long $30,000 contract with Santa Clarita-based Critter Busters to set traps — if necessary.

The city began setting traps in July and caught 11 coyotes, Laguna Beach Civilian Services Supervisor Jim Beres wrote in an email. Animals are euthanized if they are trapped to comply with state law. In the last several months, residents said they saw more of the animals roaming the streets and entering backyards in the last several months, occasionally with small dogs in their mouths.

“While we have concerns regarding the wisdom and efficacy of the trapping program itself, at a minimum, any such effort must be done in compliance with all legal requirements,” the letter says. “We urge the city to immediately remedy its non-compliance with California state law by requiring Critter Busters and any other trapping contractors acting under the city’s coyote trapping program to receive written consent from all property owners whose properties are within 150 yards of the set trap prior to any further trapping activity.”

State code says: “Traps may not be set within 150 yards of any structure used as a permanent or temporary residence, unless such traps are set by a person controlling such property or by a person who has and is carrying with him written consent of the landowner to so place the trap or traps.”

The rule applies to traps set on private property, Beres said, adding that “based on our interpretation of that code, we believe the city is fully complying with that regulation.”

Su provided an email Beres sent prior to the council’s vote last week that further explains the city’s position.

“We agree that the private trapper must obtain the written consent of the landowner upon whose property the trap is set,” Beres wrote. “We disagree that the written consent of all landowners who own land that contains a structure used as a residence located within 150 yards of a trap is necessary, if the trap is not located on their property.”

Critter Busters, which started trapping in December, received written consent from homeowners to place snare traps on their property, Beres added. The city contracted with another company prior to Critter Busters, but changed to save money, police said.

As of Wednesday, Beres said none of the snare traps were currently placed in the city.

“Since the six coyotes were caught by Critter Busters in late December, we have had no reported attacks or attempted attacks on pets in Laguna Beach,” Beres said. “The number of calls to Animal Services reporting any kind of coyote activity in Laguna Beach has decreased about 95% compared to before the six coyotes were caught. So we believe that the habituated coyote or coyotes that were responsible for the recent spate of attacks, attempted attacks, and encounters with people were among the six coyotes that were caught.

“We have rarely used the services of a trapper to deal with problem coyotes in Laguna Beach.”

The council’s decision last week authorized the city to use some of the $30,000 to pay for prior trapping services and have a remaining balance for any “coyote management” activities, not just trapping.

“We plan to use a portion of the funds to create new educational fliers and door hangers containing coyote information,” Beres said. “The funds can be used to pay for the overtime costs of the Animal Services officers to conduct community meetings and engage in after-hours hazing [of coyotes]. If attacks on pets were to begin again and it was determined that trapping was necessary to catch and remove the problem habituated coyote or coyotes responsible for the attacks, the funds could be used to pay for the trapping.”

If Critter Busters sets traps in the future, the Center for Biological Diversity wants written permission from residents, even if traps are placed on public land.

The Center for Biological Diversity wants the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to “investigate and, as appropriate, cite and/or prosecute relevant city officials and their trapper contractors for these violations.”

Laguna Police Chief Laura Farinella requested a written opinion from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on the agency’s interpretation of the code, Beres said.

Fish and wildlife authorities did not return a call or email seeking comment.

Su hopes to receive a response from the city in the next two weeks.