CC SR 20210907 02 - Coyote Management Strategies
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 09/07/2021
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to receive a status update on City’s coyote
management strategies.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Receive and file a status report on the City’s coyote management strategies and
provide staff direction on updating the Coyote Management Plan to maintain an
objective of “no pets killed” and augmenting the escalation tiers, reducing food
supply, conducting a community workshop, publishing a newsletter, and
developing a regional plan among other things;
(2) Direct Staff to initiate a contract for private trapping services with Coyote, Wildlife
& Pest Solutions to implement aggressive private trapping services, including any
necessary CEQA documentation;
(3) Authorize the Mayor to sign a letter to Supervisor Hahn requesting additional
resources to support regional and Peninsula coyote management efforts; and,
(4) Initiate code amendment proceedings to amend Section 17.76.030 of the Rancho
Palos Verdes Municipal Code (RPVMC) to allow rollers or other devices on certain
fences.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Rudy Monroy, Code Enforcement Officer RM
REVIEWED BY: Ken Rukavina, Director of Community Development
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Draft City letter to Supervisor Hahn requesting additional resources to
support coyote management (page A-1)
B. Coyote, Wildlife & Pest Solutions Proposal (page B-1)
C. July 10 – August 27, 2021, Coyote Activity Map and Data (page C-1)
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To view the City’s Coyote Management Plan, Keep Me Wild brochure, and Home & Yard
Checklist for Wildlife on the City website, go to rpvca.gov/coyotes.
BACKGROUND:
Coyotes have been part of the Peninsula since well before its development and the City
of Rancho Palos Verdes’ incorporation. As a result, the residents of Rancho Palos Verdes
are often impacted by coyote activity as they, their families, and their pets are susceptible
to interactions with coyotes due to the significant amount of habitat on the Peninsula.
Coyote interactions can be manifested through observations of coyotes in urban and
suburban neighborhoods via coyote sightings in backyards, parks, or green spaces.
Interactions may even entail coyotes biting or killing pets. Instances of coyotes stalking
small pets, and even those on leashes, have been reported as well.
Within the South Bay, the City has been at the forefront in engaging its residents in
educational campaigns about what to do when encountering coyotes and what measures
to take to deter coyotes from entering residential neighborhoods. In September 2018, the
City updated the Coyote Management Plan to reflect best p ractices from the California
Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) Wildlife Watch Program and coincide with the
coyote management plans of the cities of Palos Verdes Estates and Rolling Hills Estates.
The City has also been active in disseminating public information and brochures on living
with urban coyotes and methods to deter coyotes from entering properties and for
reporting coyote activities via the City’s web-based platform.
On July 20, 2021, Staff provided the City Council with a status report on implementing the
City’s Coyote Management Plan. The City Council directed Staff to, among other things,
begin augmenting the Plan by escalating the removal of aggressive coyotes; preparing a
letter to Supervisor Hahn requesting additional funding for trapping resources; hosting an
educational forum for the public; generating an educational citywide newsletter for coyote
management independent of the City’s general quarterly newsletter; and working with the
South Bay Cities Council of Government (SBCCOG) to develop a regional management
plan.
DISCUSSION:
Since the July 20 meeting, staff has been working on the City Council directives. This
report is intended to provide an update on the directives and to implement certain
measures to the City’s coyote management strategies, including the:
• Coyote Management Plan;
• Public education forum;
• Coyote newsletter;
• Enhanced Coyote Removal Program;
• Coyote tracking;
• Coordination with the SBCCOG on a regional program; and
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• Amending the City’s fence and walls section of the Zoning Code.
Coyote Management Plan
The goal of the Coyote Management Plan is to encourage and support coexistence with
urban coyotes using education, behavior modification, and development of a tiered
response to aggressive coyote behavior. The tiered response requires active participation
of the entire community, including residents, homeowners associations (HOAs),
volunteers, and city personnel. This plan is based on research and best -known practices
and includes a full spectrum of management tools. Basic principles that guide the plan
are available on the City’s website at rpvca.gov/coyotes.
The Coyote Management Plan (and Staff in its public outreach) also recommends hazing
as a deterrent method to move a coyote out of an area or discourage an undesirable
behavior or activity because some coyotes may have become too comfortable in the close
proximity of people. Hazing, also known as “fear conditioning,” is the process that
facilitates a change in behavior and is effective when a community responds consistently
to negative encounters with coyotes. Information on hazing and encounters with coyotes
is available on the City’s website at rpvca.gov/coyotes.
Response to Habituated Coyotes:
As presented in the Coyote Management Plan, a detailed tiered response plan has been
developed to provide a mechanism for identifying and classifying different levels of human
and coyote interactions. While attacks on humans are rare, semi-rural landscape
development, habituation through intentional and unintentional feeding, pet-related
incidents, and media attention has led to more exposure to coyotes and resident safety
concerns. Media plays a critical role in shaping public understanding and can influence
people’s emotional experiences, perceptions and management consequences.
According to experts including the CDFW and Los Angeles County Agricultural
Commissioner/Weights and Measures (Agricultural Commissioner), attacks on free-
roaming and unattended small pets are normal coyote behavior and do not necessarily
indicate a danger for people or an overly aggressive or habituated coyote (there are
different characteristics to look for). Coyotes usually become habituated when they learn
and associate people and/or neighborhoods with a source of food. People reinforce this
behavior by not reacting appropriately when encountering a coyote. Steps must be taken
to address safety concerns and ensure appropriate responses to potential threats to
human safety.
The City’s Coyote Management Plan describes the following multi-tiered response to
specific coyote actions or behaviors which was developed in coordination with the other
Peninsula cities.
• Level 1 (coyotes are either heard or seen) - The City’s response to the sighting is
to provide informational material to educate the resident on typical coyote
behavior.
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• Level 2 (coyote encounters a person or pet) – The City’s response to the encounter
is to conduct yard audits to identify ways to deter coyote entry and to improve pet
management.
• Level 3 (coyote enters yard or pet is injured or killed) – The City’s response to the
incident is to gather information and report it to the appropriate agencies, conduct
a yard audit, develop a hazing team for the neighborhood, and implement the
Wildlife Watch Program.
• Level 4 (coyote shows teeth, back fur is raised, lunges towards a person, bites or
injures a person) – The City’s response to the characteristics of an aggressive
coyote is to initiate a trapping assessment and to coordinate with the Agricultural
Commissioner. Biting is reported to the CDFW.
Based on City Council directives at the July 20 meeting, staff recommends augmenting
the Level 3-tiered response by adding trapping to the response when a coyote enters a
yard and a pet is injured or killed. If acceptable, Sta ff will make that change to the
Management Plan which supports the objective of “no pets killed.”
Reducing Food Supply:
According to the Coyote Management Plan, the act of feeding wildlife is known to lead to
an increase in wildlife activity. Feeding can attract coyotes and their prey to an area,
leading to an increased likelihood of creating habituated coyotes and resulting in
increases in coyote-human interactions. California law prohibits feeding wildlife. The
City’s Code Enforcement Division strictly enforces the state law(s) pertaining to this
activity. RPVMC § 6.04.101 adopts Title 10, §10.84.010 of the Los Angeles County Code,
Providing Food for Certain Predator Animals Prohibited.
A violation of this section is a misdemeanor and will result in an administrative citation of
$2,500 for the first offense, $5,000 for the second offense, and $7,500 for the third
offense. In addition, habitual offenders will face criminal prosecution.
Public Education Forum
On July 20 the City Council directed Staff to conduct a town hall forum to raise awareness
on coyotes specifically to understand the differences between sightings and imminent
threats, and to provide residents with information on City response strategies and how to
deter coyotes from their property. In 2018, in collaboration with the other three Peninsula
cities, the City held a town hall meeting on the Wildlife Watch Program to raise awareness
on coyotes. The town hall meeting included a panel of specialists representing the CDFW,
the Agricultural Commissioner, and CDFW’s Natural Resources Volunteer Program.
The Wildlife Watch is a CDFW-administered program that is similar to a Neighborhood
Watch program. It enlists the participation of citizens to bring neighbors together and help
train them to recognize and distinguish wildlife sightings, wildlife threats to pub lic safety,
and natural versus unnatural wildlife behavior, with an emphasis on coyotes. It also helps
with the implementation of basic wildlife conflict prevention techniques, such as hazing.
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This program requires the participation of an entire neighborhood to keep coyotes out of
neighborhoods.
Many wildlife conflicts exist because of attractants. Neighbors either unknowingly or
knowingly providing food, water, and shelter for wildlife. Citizens in the community may
know about wildlife issues in their neighborhood that local agencies have not yet been
made aware of. Working together, wildlife conflicts can be reduced. Since July, Staff has
coordinated with block captains in the following neighborhoods:
• Fond Du Lac/Pembina Rd
• Sandbrook Dr/Via Sonoma
The City intends to host a similar public forum for Rancho Palos Verdes residents in mid-
to late October. Staff and county agencies will provide training and practical application
of coyote management. Topics will include information on coyote ecology, an overview of
hazing including examples of hazing techniques, how to secure yards to deter coyotes,
and the Wildlife Watch Program. Materials will be provided such as handouts, contact
information and resources when questions, comments, and concerns come up relating to
coyotes. Participants will be educated about coyote behavior, setting realistic
expectations, understanding normal versus abnormal coyote behavior , and the need for
maintaining a consistent response to residents’ concerns and comments. The public
forum will also include a panel of specialists representing the CDFW, the Agricultural
Commissioner, and CDFW’s Natural Resources Volunteer Program. All residents and
City officials are encouraged to attend.
Coyote Newsletter
At the July 20 meeting, the City Council directed staff to send a standalone special edition
coyote newsletter to residents on coyote deterrents. This would be in concert with the
public education forum intended to reach a wider audience. The newsletter will include
information on the following topics:
• Coyote ecology
• Hazing techniques
• Deterrents
• Reporting form
• Mapping data
• Coyote trapping efforts
• County ordinance prohibiting feeding and issuing a citation fine and amount
• Food source issues information
• County agency contacts
• Wildlife Watch Program
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Enhanced Coyote Removal Program
The Agricultural Commissioner has contracts with the cities of Rancho Palos Verdes,
Rolling Hills, and Rolling Hills Estates for coyote-related community services. The City of
Palos Verdes Estates contracts with a private company, Animal Pest Management. T he
City of Rolling Hills also contracts with Animal Pest Management for added services not
provided by the County’s contract. It is important to note that the CDFW does not handle
coyote complaints made by residents or jurisdictions, nor does the Los Angel es County
Department of Animal Care and Control (Animal Control). CDFW refers calls back to the
City or the Agricultural Commissioner, and Animal Control will only respond if the coyote
appears sick or is dead.
In Rancho Palos Verdes, when residents have concerns about coyotes, they are asked
to call the Code Enforcement Division. Code Enforcement Staff will assess the situation
and determine if the problem is one that can be handled by the use of preventative
measures, or if the situation needs to be escalated to the Agricultural Commissioner for
further review. The Agricultural Commissioner has provided the Peninsula animal-related
support with outreach, education, audits, and trapping, in part due to the support and
discretionary funding by Los Angeles County Supervisor Hahn’s office. This funding
continues to provide a full-time dedicated deputy from the Agricultural Commissioner for
coyote management services on the Peninsula Monday through Thursday, and
occasionally on Fridays, between approximately 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. These increased hours
have enabled City Staff to engage the county in scheduling the yard audits described in
greater detail below.
The Agricultural Commissioner provides trapping services only when the City determines
that an aggressive coyote exists. If the County is contacted by the City because the City
feels that a coyote may be “aggressive” and cause concern for public safety, the County
will still conduct its own assessment to determine if trapping should occur. This year, eight
traps have been set up in the City, with one coyote caught.
Over the past several months, the City Council has received public comments regarding
coyote encounters, threats to pets, and other associated concerns. The City Council’s
direction to Staff was to begin researching a more aggressive and robust approach to
targeting coyote removal. Direction was provided to Staff to augment the existing
Management Plan program and request additional County resources. This included
seeking outside resources for an enhanced coyote removal program to combat
aggressive, habituated coyote behavior through the use of outside professional trapping
services. It should be noted that if the City were to hire a private trapper, the Agricultural
Commissioner will not place traps in the same areas where private trapping is conducted,
and would be independent of the City’s current coyote action/response plan and the
Agricultural Commissioner’s trapping program.
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City Initiated Trapping
Staff solicited and received three proposals for professional trapping services. The cost
of private trapping service is in the range of $2,300 to $3,500 per a 10 -business day
period or an annual minimum cost of $60,000 for a continuous coyote trapping/removal
program plus the additional cost for every coyote euthanized.
Private trapping services generally entail placing traps in strategic locations according to
noted activity and public consideration and remain for 10 days. Traps are checked a
minimum of once daily per state regulations. All traps are approved by CDFW. A private
trapper can legally trap coyotes for the City on any property with written permission from
the property owner. Additionally, all property owners within 150 yard of a placed trap must
be notified.
The Agricultural Commissioner is the only local government agency with an active trap
and euthanize program without having completed a California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) analysis. The Los Angeles County program has been in place since the late
1800s and is therefore exempt from the CEQA requirement. Utilizing a private trapper
may require the City to complete a CEQA analysis. The cost of the CEQA analysis is
estimated in the range of $20,000 to $30,000. Staff will research this issue and provide
more information at the September 7 City Council meeting.
Should the City Council move to direct the implementation of private trapping services,
Staff recommends retaining the services of Coyote, Wildlife & Pest Solutions (CWPS).
The cost for implementing the trapping program would be $2,300 per 10 business day
trapping period. All labor and materials would be supplied by CWPS. CWPS’s proposal
can be found in Attachment B. Assuming trapping services are provided continuously, the
annualized cost would be approximately $60,000. If it is the desire of the City Council that
service be implemented, award of a contract for services and a budget appropriation will
be placed on the September 21, 2021 Consent Calendar for the City Council’s
consideration.
It should be noted that Staff met with City of Torrance staff to discuss its current coyote
trapping program. Torrance concluded six months of trapping at six locations in the city,
primarily in the flood control storm water basin and sump areas, at a cost of approximately
$70,000. Fifteen coyotes were trapped during the 2020-2021 cycle that closed in March.
The trapped coyotes, using live traps and snares, were predominantly adolescent males
between 6-8 pounds. However, it is females who breed that need to be removed to reduce
population counts. Torrance experienced incidents of trap tampering, which was
attributed to unhoused individuals and potentially by those who are opposed to trapping.
Torrance also experienced a high level of public records requests regarding t he trapping
program.
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Private Property Owner-Initiated Trapping
According to State of California-Department of Fish and Wildlife Title 14 California Code
of Regulation Section 4.65, coyotes are considered “non-game wildlife,” therefore, any
residents can initiate, at their own expense, action to protect themselves and their
property from coyote attacks, including trapping. For a complete review of Trapping Laws
and Regulations, visit the county website at wildlife.ca.gov.
Although residents have the ability to initiate, at their own expense, trapping and removal
of coyotes, a private trapper must be certified/licensed by the State of California and have
a current City business license.
No private individual is authorized to discharge a firearm within the City of Rancho Palos
Verdes to deter or kill a coyote. Section 9.08.010 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal
Code states:
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it shall be unlawful within the
boundaries of the city for any person to fire, discharge, shoot or operate or
to assist or participate in firing, discharging, shooting or operating any gun,
revolver, pistol, firearm, spring gun, air gun, sling, slingshot or device
designed or intended to discharge or capable of discharging any dangerous
missile or any cartridge, shell, ammunition or device containing any
explosive substance designed or intended to be used in or fired from any
gun, revolver, pistol or firearm.
City letter to Supervisor Hahn requesting additional resources to support coyote
management efforts:
On July 20, City Council requested that staff prepare a letter to Supervisor Hahn
requesting additional funding for trapping resources. The draft letter (Attachment A)
acknowledges and thanks Supervisor Hahn for her past support and requests the Board’s
support and assistance with the following measures to help manage the coyote population
throughout the region and the Peninsula:
• Enhance coyote-related services, including trapping, provided by the Agricultural
Commissioner, or provide additional fiscal resources to fund the cost of private
trapping service to augment the trapping services by th e Agricultural
Commissioner
• Designate a County representative to the SBCCOG regarding coyote issues
• Assist and fund the preparation of a regional Coyote Management Plan that would
replace each jurisdiction’s management plan for consistency purposes
• Provide grants to South Bay cities to offset the costs of implementing a regional
Management Plan
• Support the regional implementation of the Wildlife Watch Program
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Coyote Tracking
Coyote GPS Collar Program:
While there are no estimates of the local region’s coyote population, the state CDFW
estimates 250,000 to 750,000 of these animals statewide. We do know that coyote
conflicts are on the rise as attractants increase and habitat is reduced. Dr. Niamh Quinn,
from the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR), and her
team, which includes the Agricultural Commissioner, implemented a coyote global
positioning system (GPS) collar program to research and collect data to study the
movement of urban coyotes to find out how effective hazing is. The project consisted of
collaring some coyotes, which involves trapping in order to place collars. The collars are
equipped with a solar panel to charge the device, wireless communication availability to
connect to different networks, and an accelerometer, an important component that
measures acceleration. Tracking collared coyotes provides important data to determine
if hazing is effective once the coyote fleas the area after being properly hazed. Thus far,
the collar program is being conducted in urbanized areas in south-central Los Angeles
County, Hacienda Heights, and San Bernardino County. The UCANR Collared Coyotes
GIS map shows collared coyotes and their movement (each color dot on the map
represents a single urbanized coyote). Collaring location, travel time and coyote activity
play a big part in the area selection process. There are 18 collared coyotes in the county.
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes has been in contact with Dr. Quinn to participate in the
collar program in the months to come. Rancho Palos Verdes would be the first city on the
Peninsula to participate in the collar program. This would have no fiscal impact on the
City and would be fully funded by the UCANR coyote GPS collar program. Dr. Quinn
would likely trap one or two coyotes; however, if City performs an enhance d private
trapping program, the collar program will not be extended to the City because of concerns
that a collared coyote could be trapped.
Coyote Sighting App:
In 2017, the City’s Information Technology (IT) Staff launched a web -based coyote
sighting application that the public can use on mobile and desktop devices, which is
available at rpvca.gov/reportcoyotes. The application benefits all the Peninsula cities, and
although its development was led by City Staff, it was a collaborative effort with the cities
of Rolling Hills Estates and Palos Verdes Estates, whose residents and staff utilize this
application as well to improve the public’s ability to review the data collected via the coyote
sighting application using real-time coyote sighting dashboard. The application provides
information on coyote population and sighting trends. Residents report a coyote sighting
and describe the coyote’s behavior or incident on this application. The reported
information is documented and forwarded to City Staff.
Earlier this year, the City’s IT Staff launched the MyRPV mobile app to enhance the
public’s access to information at City Hall. At the July 20 meeting, the City Council directed
staff to include a link to the coyote sighting app on the MyRPV mobile app. In response,
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the MyRPV mobile app now includes a coyote reporting feature residents can use from
anywhere, via their smartphone or tablet. The data on the dashboard is displayed using
charts, widgets, maps and other visual elements. The dashboard can be viewed on the
City’s website at rpvca.gov/CoyoteSightingDashboard.
A map of the Peninsula is available on the website that identifies the location of the
reported coyote and its activity. Attached to tonight’s report are data collected between
July 10 and August 26, 2021, and a corresponding map for Rancho Palos Verdes
(Attachment A). It must be noted that the reported sightings include multiple sightings of
the same coyote.
The public is encouraged to report coyote sightings and behavior using the coyote
application to allow the City to monitor, among other things, population and behavior
trends.
South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) – Coyote Management Plan
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes and the City of Torrance are collaborating with the
SBCCOG to develop a regional management plan. During July’s meeting of South Bay
City Managers, City Managers Mihranian and Chaparyan (Torrance City Manager)
introduced some initial thoughts for a regional management plan, which included
formulating a regional policy that sends a consistent message to residents (speaking with
one voice) and implementing a consistent approach to:
• Educating South Bay residents on how to consistently respond to coyote sightings
and incidents based on a defined escalation process (tiered approach) including
trapping;
• Considering a regional enterprise contract for trapping costs; and
• Establishing a regional tracking app that each City would administer. Data
collected could be shared with city staff and experts monitoring coyote activity and
behavior.
This regional solution is in the early stages and will be discussed with the South Bay city
managers at their monthly meetings. To proceed with such a regional solution, the South
Bay cities will need to agree and be willing to contribute resources toward its
implementation. The City of Rancho Palos Verdes has expressed its willingness to lead
this regional solution with support from the other South Bay cities but will not implement
a regional plan in other cities. Such implementation would need to be facilitated by each
participating City. The City Managers agreed to review a draft regional management pl an,
but stopped short of committing to adopting and implementing such a plan at this time.
Staff will continue to update the City Council on the progress of a regional management
plan.
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Amending the City’s Fence and Walls Section of the Zoning Code
A coyote roller placed on top of a fence is product designed to prevent animals from
getting the foothold they need to climb over a fence and may be a deterrent from entering
yards. Rollers spin when a coyote or pet reaches up to the top of the fence and places
their paws on them to pull over, leading to the animal sliding back. Coyote rollers can be
mounted on block walls, and chain link, vinyl, wood dog ear, wood flat top, and wrought
iron fences. The rollers can add 2 ½ inches to 4 inches in height to an existing fence.
RPVMC Section 17.76.030 provides for the construction of fences, walls and hedges as
required for privacy and for protection against hazardous conditions, dangerous visual
obstruction at street intersection and unnecessary impairment of views, and sets
standards for permitting non-retaining fencing and walls up to 7 feet in rear and side yards
without permits, and over 7 feet with a Minor Exception Permit. If a property owner desires
to place a coyote roller or other device on top of an existing 7-foot fence or wall on the
rear or side yard, this would require a Minor Exception Permit under the current code. To
aid property owners who live directly adjacent to open space to deter coyotes,
consideration can be given to allow the addition of coyote rollers on top of fences and
walls without a permit in certain areas of the City. Therefore, staff recommend s City
Council initiate code amendment proceedings to amend RPVMC Section 17.76.030 to
allow rollers or other similar devices on certain fences.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Have Coyote Numbers Increased in Rancho Palos Verdes?
Without accurate reporting data prior to 2016, it is difficult to determine an increase in
numbers of coyotes in the area. Coyotes can become habituated if they are intentionally
or unintentionally in the area and if they are intentionally or unintentionally fed, which can
lead to bolder behavior when coyotes lose their fear of people. Coyotes, like all predators,
will stabilize their populations if they are not constantly exploited. In general, coyotes
regularly roam an area of about 2-5 square miles or whatever it takes to get enough food
for the pack members. Normally, the number of mature coyotes in a family is linked to the
amount of food resources in the territory. The family system keeps coyotes from getting
too numerous because the families defend the area they need to survive.
A coyote family usually has one breeding (or alpha) female. This female produces more
pups than are ultimately wanted in the family. Young coyotes may leave the family at
about 9-11 months of age, but dispersal patterns are highly variable. These coyotes
become transients. Other types of transients include older individuals that can no longer
defend their role as upper-level family members and leave the family.
Transient coyotes move around in narrow undefended zones that exist between territories
searching for an open habitat to occupy or group to join. They often die before they
succeed (many are hit by cars). It is largely because of these transients that coyote
eradication programs are unsuccessful according to specialists.
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Removing a group of territorial coyotes will create an undefended area which the transient
coyotes will enter. At all times of the year, the number of transients are immediately
available to replenish any voids created by killing the resident coyotes. Further, suppose
either the alpha male or alpha female in a pack is killed. In that case, that may result in
increased ovulation in other breeding -age females in the family and an increase in the
number of litters and the number of pups per litter.
Corrections to Statements made at July 20 City Council Meeting
Since the July 20 meeting, it has come to Staff’s attention that there were certain
statements made by Staff that were inaccurate relating to how many employees the
County employs for coyote services and that Dr. Quinn performs a coyote census.
Specifically, it was incorrectly reported that the Agricultural Commissioner only employs
one individual to perform coyote management for the entire county. While Mr. Barrera is
the primary trapper for the geographic area that includes the Palos Verdes Peninsula, the
Agricultural Commissioner employs other personnel in the other geographic areas within
the county to provide those services, if required. As reported earlier in this staff report,
Supervisor Hahn provides additional funds in order to keep Mr. Barrera exclusively on the
Palos Verdes Peninsula, which gives the four Peninsula cities enhanced services in
regards to coyote management. Additionally, as part of the discussion regarding the
studies provided by Dr. Quinn, Staff incorrectly noted that she conducts a coyote census.
As noted earlier in this staff report, Dr. Quinn conducts a coyote GPS collar program to
track and collect data on coyote movements and behaviors. This is not a census nor is
one performed.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative actions are available for
the City Council’s consideration:
1. Identify revised language to add to the letter.
2. Do not authorize the Mayor to sign the letter.
3. Direct Staff to revisit the proposals for trapping services submitted by the other
firms.
4. Do not authorize Staff to initiate a contract for private trapping services
5. Direct Staff to develop additional measures to address the City’s coyote issues
for the City Council’s future consideration.
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September 7, 2021 Via Email
The Honorable Janice Hahn
L.A. County Board of Supervisors
Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
500 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
SUBJECT: Managing the Coyote Population
Dear Supervisor Hahn:
On behalf of my colleagues on the City Council, I would like to thank you for allocating
discretionary funding to provide coyote management services though the Department of
Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures (Agricultural Commissioner) to the
Peninsula cities. The funding will provide services for coyote outreach, education, yard
audits and trapping are invaluable.
Despite all our efforts, over the past few years, there has been a significant increase in
the reporting of coyote sightings and incidents with residents and pets, not only in Rancho
Palos Verdes, but in the surrounding Palos Verdes Peninsula cities and throughout the
South Bay. Therefore, I am writing to you today to seek your additional assistance in
providing resources to support coyote management efforts on the Palos Verdes
Peninsula and throughout the South Bay.
Recognizing that coyotes are a regional concern, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes began
collaborating with the cities of Rolling Hills Estates and Palos Verdes Estates to
implement a comprehensive and cohesive plan to manage the coyote population. The
results of this effort have successfully led to community-wide public workshops to
disseminate information on how to coexist with coyotes; implementation of a Wildlife
Watch Program that enlists citizen participation and helps train residents to recognize and
distinguish wildlife sightings, wildlife threats, and natural versus unnatural wildlife
behavior; and the creation of a web-based coyote reporting application.
The purpose of this letter is two-fold: to seek the county’s assistance in addressing the
regional issues with the coyote population as requested above, and to raise the
awareness of the Board of Supervisors to the ever-increasing coyote presence
throughout the Palos Verdes Peninsula and South Bay, including Rancho Palos Verdes.
A-1
L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn
September 7, 2021
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Coyotes have been a part of Rancho Palos Verdes since well before its development and
incorporation in 1973. In 2013, the City began implementing a Coyote Management Plan.
The plan is intended to encourage and support coexistence with urban coyotes using
education, behavior modification and development of a tiered response to aggressive
coyote behavior. While the Peninsula cities have addressed community concerns with
coyotes, so have other South Bay cities. This regional issue has been the topic of
renewed discussion at monthly meetings of city managers held by the South Bay Cities
Council of Governments (SBCCOG). The bottom line is that cities and the county need
to work together to address coyote issues consistently because coyotes affect all
residents in Los Angeles County and do not know jurisdictional boundaries.
The Board of Supervisors is in a position to take a leadership role in supporting cities in
their efforts to keep their residents informed and aware of coyote issues, both in the South
Bay and throughout the county. Therefore, the City respectfully requests the Board’s
support and assistance with the following measures to help manage the coyote population
throughout the region:
• Enhance coyote-related services, including trapping, provided by the Agricultural
Commissioner, or provide additional fiscal resources to fund the cost of private
trapping service to augment the trapping services by the Agricultural
Commissioner.
• Designate a County representative to the SBCCOG regarding coyote issues.
• Assist and fund the preparation of a regional South Bay Coyote Management Plan
that would replace each jurisdiction’s management plan for consistency purposes.
• Provide grants to South Bay cities to offset the cost s of implementing a regional
Management Plan.
• Support the regional implementation of the Wildlife Wat ch Program
The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council sincerely appreciates your attention and
assistance with the matters raised in this letter, and look forward to participating in future
discussions with the Board of Supervisors on these issues , which that impact residents’
quality of life.
Sincerely,
Eric Alegria
Mayor
cc: Rancho Palos Verdes City Council
Ara Mihranian, City Manager
Karina Bañales, Deputy City Manager
Ken Rukavina, Director of Community Development
Jacki Bacharach, Executive Director, SBCCOG
A-2
Coyote, Wildlife & Pest Solutions
8775 E. Wiley Way
Anaheim Hills, CA 92808
Email: coyotewildlifesolutions@gmail.com
Trapper ID# 7868
08/20/2021
RE: COYOTE CONTROL/ABATEMENT
To Whom It May Concern:
Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to acquaint you with our services and
qualifications. We know you will be pleased to be working with a company whose Capture
Specialist has over 38 years of humane and environmentally responsible, tracking and
trapping experience.
Our coyote abatement program consists of a 10-business day trapping period. The traps
would be placed in strategic locations according to noted activity and public consideration.
According to state regulations, the traps would be checked a minimum of once daily. Al l
traps are approved by the Department of Fish and Game. The cost for implementing the
trapping program would be $2,300.00 (10 Business Days). All labor and materials would be
supplied by CWPS.
Larger wildlife, especially coyotes, are becoming a common problem in many urban
communities around Southern California. They no longer fear humans which is why they are
seen encroaching on neighborhoods, attempting to find food sources. This can lead to
attacks on pets, and in some cases, attacks on people.
Aggressive coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, etc…cannot be managed by precautionary
actions alone. Trapping is warranted in specific situations in order to manage the
population and remove animals that have lost their fear of humans. Traps are set
strategically by our experienced capture specialist. Typically, one to five animals are
trapped during the abatement program. Our abatement program has proven very
effective in many cities throughout Southern California.
B-1
An important part of a Coyote Abatement Program that would contribute significantly to
its success is encouraging residents to be aware of coyotes and take precautions around
their homes. For example, 1) Keep pets indoors at night and early morning. Always monitor
small pets outdoors and keep them on a leash. 2) Feed pets indoors or promptly remove
pet food/water after pets are finished eating. 3) NEVER leave small children unattended
in areas where coyotes may be frequenting.
Should you have any further questions or if you would be interest ed in having our Capture
Specialist, Jimmie Rizzo, speak with you about your abatement program, please call us.
We look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
Coyote, Wildlife and Pest Solutions
Pamela Parker
Director Contracts/Operations
(714)814-8378
Jimmie Rizzo
Capture Specialist
(714)943-4121
B-2
Coyote, Wildlife & Pest Solutions, Inc.
8775 E. Wiley Way
Anaheim Hills, CA 92808
Email: coyotewildlifesolutions@gmail.com
Trapper ID# 7868
08/20/2021
Attn: Rudy Monroy Service Proposal #11223
This service proposal shall be binding between CWPS and ___Rancho Palos Verdes Code
Enforcement___
Billing Address__30940 Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275______
For a period of (2 weeks/10 Business Days), beginning TBD for services listed:
* Target Animal - COYOTE ABATEMENT
*Traps/Materials to be Used - SNARES
Cost - $2,300.00
***Options for longer trappings are available (monthly, 6 month increments, or yearly
contracts are also available). We will customize a program for your specific needs.
** Description of Work: One time coyote abatement program consists of a (1) Month trapping period. The
traps are place d in strategic locations according to noted activity and public consideration. According to state
regulations, all traps would be checked a minimum of once daily. All traps used by Coyote, Wildlife and Pest
Solutions are approved by the Department of Fish and Game. All labor and materials are supplied by CWPS
Signature and Title of Authorized Agent_____________________________________________
Date:_____________________________________________________________________________
CWPS Signature ___________________________________________________________________
Date:_____________________________________________________________________________
***Please make checks payable to: Coyote, Wildlife & Pest Solutions, Inc.
Jimmie Rizzo (714) 943-4121
Capture Specialist
Pamela Parker (714)814-8378
Director of Contracts/Operations
B-3
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0 1 20.5
Miles
Coyote Sightings in Rancho Palos Verdes
July 10, 2021 - August 26, 2021
Coyote Activity
!(Coyote seen moving or resting in the area (77)
!(Coyote following or approaching a person (6)
!(Coyote entered a yard without pets (26)
!(Coyote entered a yard with pets (17)
!(Coyote entered a yard and injured a pet (0)
!(Coyote entered a yard and killed a pet (0)
!(Coyote showing aggressive behavior (i.e. showing teeth, lunging, nipping without contact) (3)
!(Other (5)
Rancho Palos Verdes
Total Sightings Reported: 134
±
City of Rancho Palos Verdes GIS | August 2021
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