A Seal Beach resident has launched an online petition drive to have the city trap coyotes.
As of mid-morning, Tuesday, Aug. 26, the drive had gathered 71 signatures at iPetitions.com. The goal: 5,000 signatures.
“I created the online petition for trapping the coyotes because I want the community to feel safe against coyote attacks,” said Nate Kranda.
“Coyotes in town barely react to the hazing techniques that the city claims will help deter them. Getting rid of these coyotes is a small price to pay for the safety of our community. We must act before something horrible happens,” Kranda said.
The petition calls on city officials to trap and sterilize or euthanize coyotes. California law does not allow the relocation of coyotes.
“I am aware of the iPetition and can tell you we are investigating all avenues to deter coyotes,” Patrick Gallegos, assistant city manager.
Mayor Ellery Deaton was aware of the strong emotions that coyote activity has triggered in the community. She said it was important to take, not a long-term view, but an “aerial” view of the problem. She said she has been looking at the UC Davis coyote study as well as Glendale’s coyote management plan.
Deaton said Glendale is the city that you hear so much about, because in 1981 a coyote killed a little girl there. Deaton said neighbors had been feeding coyotes over the objections of the child’s parents before the attack.
“The coyotes have certainly become a problem throughout Seal Beach. We are looking forward to having a town hall meeting with other cities who have and are experiencing the same problems so we can see what others are doing, what has worked and not worked and see what would best work for our residents here in Seal Beach,” Deaton said.
The mayor also said it was important to remove habitat that provides coyotes with shelter to protect their young. She said the Bay City Partners would be removing potential coyote habitat from the beachfront property that the BCP intend to develop as a housing project.
Ed Selich, project manager for the Bay City Partners, said they were scheduled to perform their semi annual disking of the area inside the fence.
“We will have the equipment and a water truck there to keep the dust down. We hope that the turning over of the soil will not only remove the vegetation but will also remove any potential coyote habitat,” Selich said.
As for trapping coyotes, Assistant City Manager Gallegos said he expected to have estimates on the cost of trapping the animals sometime next week.
Deaton said public safety was the priority.
“As far as the budget is concerned, any decisions we make about coyotes will put the health, welfare and quality of life of our residents first,” Deaton said.
Asked if the city could afford to trap coyotes, Finance Director City Treasurer Victoria Beatley said: “If the Council were to direct that money be spent on/for coyote issues, we would have to reallocate funds from an area in the budget where funding may be available. This decision may or may not affect the surplus.”
Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach said all the coyote activity seemed to be occurring within the borders of Seal Beach.
“I stand ready to assist, but coyotes have become ubiquitous to this area of the County,” Moorlah said. “Just about every city in my District has a web page dealing with coyotes,” Moorlach said.
