CITY MANAGER REPORT BELVEDERE CITE' COUNCIL JANUARY 13, 2014 To: From: Mayor and City Council Mary Neilan, City Manager Patricia Seyler, Police Chief Subject: Coyote sighting Recommended Motion/ Item Description Receive report BackLFround Recently, concerned residents have advised City Staff that coyotes have been seen wandering through streets and yards in Belvedere. This report reviews the options available to the community to address the coyote presence. Findings The coyote is a wild, non- game animal, found throughout North America. It is known as garbage can bandit" and will eat meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, grain, or anything else that is available including rodents, rabbits and other small animals. Coyotes will also prey on poultry, sheep and goats as well as deer. They tend to be active after dusk and before daylight, and are naturally cautious around humans. The Marin Humane Society provides animal control services countywide. They will respond to a call about a coyote only if the animal is " aggressive" or is believed to pose a threat to public safety, such as threatening humans or domestic pets in a confined yard. They do not respond to sightings. a MHS offers the following advice regarding coyotes: Clear away bushes and dense weeds where rodents, reptiles, and insects dwell. The greater part of a coyote' s diet consists of these critters, so keeping them away and off your property will help keep the coyote at bay, too. Since coyotes like meat and fish dishes, be sure to fasten garbage can lids tightly if one of these was on the dinner menu. Coyotes will also eat oats, vegetables and fruits, so dispose of these foods properly, too. Remove fallen fruit from underneath fruit trees. AGENDA ITEM NO.
CITY MANAGER REPORT BELVEDERE CITY COUNCIL JANUAY 13, 2014 Page 2 Be sure to pick up your pet' s food dishes if you feed him/her outdoors. And, for safety sake, keep your pet inside at night. Cats and small dogs can become quick prey when left outside unattended. If you encounter a coyote in your yard, spray them with water from the hose or make loud noises to scare them away. The mature coyote is a skilled hunter and has been known to prey upon deer. So, when planting a garden or shrubbery, pick deer-resistant plants to keep the deer away. Never intentionally feed or befriend a coyote. In Marin it is illegal to feed wildlife. Staff also contacted Conrad Jones, Sr. Environmental Scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife ( CDFW) stationed in Yountville, who explained that their agency will respond to a coyote sighting only if there is excessive property damage or a threat to public safety. They do not " relocate" coyotes from one location to another. In the event there is a serious threat, Mr. Jones suggested that the city' s Police Department would likely be able to respond more quickly than CDFW. Literature from the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture Wildlife Services reiterates the advice of Marin Humane Society and CDFW, emphasizing the importance of keeping ones property free of any food or water source that would attract a coyote. Information on coyotes has been posted on the City' s website. Recommendation Receive report. Attachments 1. Living with Coyotes Marin Humane Society 2. Keep Me Wild Ca. Dept. of Fish and Game 3. Coyotes in Towns and Suburbs USDA Wildlife Services
Coyotes are monogamous. They a year from February to May Living breed just once to and their gestation period is 63 days. Litters usually from three to seven pups. These pups are born average anywhere underground in a den that the female hollows out. Their babies begin to learn how to hunt at about en weeks of age and are less than a year old when they leave their parents. These dog-like mammals are found virtually any- where there is a hefty plant and grass community. They are your livestock, such as chick- usually to seek out food in the dark. active at night and prefer However, it is not uncommon to see them out during the day. A coyote's diet is Imade up primarily of meat and fish, but they also eat vegetables, oats and fruits. with Coyotes ATTACHMENT I fasten garbage can lids tightly if one of these was on the dinner menu. Coyotes will also eat oats, vegetables and fruits, so dispose of these foods properly, too. Remove fallen fruit from underneath fruit trees. Be sure to pick up your pet's food dishes if you feed him/ her outdoors. And, for safety sake, keep your pet inside at night. Cats and small dogs can become quick prey when left outside unattended. If possible, make,sure that ens and ducks, are securely sheltered at night, not out wandering in the backyard. The mature coyote is a skilled hunter and has been known to prey upon deer. So, The coyote is similar in shape to I when planting a garden or a shepherd dog. The difference shrubbery, pick deer-resistant between the two is their tail; J J plants to keep the deer away. the coyote's tail is, round and bushy, and carried straight out below its level back. A coyote's legs are slender and its feet smaller than those of a dog its same size. The muzzle is long and slender, and its ears large and erect. Coyotes are basically garbage can bandits. Accused, often wrongly, of killing livestock, they are sometimes not to welcome wildlife. What can you do to prevent problems from occurring with these wild neighbors? JJ Never intentionally feed or befriend a coyote. In Marin it is illegal to feed wildlife. If you have any questions or encounter specific problems when dealing with wildlife, please cat[ the Marin Humane Society at 415. 883.4621 or go MarinHumaneSociety.org.- Resources: Project Coyote Erect fences or walls) where possible. They ProjectCoyoteorg should be high enough to keep this larger canine away and out of your backyard. Clear away bushes and dense weeds where rodents, reptiles, and insects dwell. The greater part of a coyote' s diet consists of these critters, so keeping them away and off your property will help keep the coyote at bay, too. Since coyotes like meat and fish dishes, be sure The Mli arin Humane Society L el Marin Keys Blvd., Novato, CA 94949, MarinHumaneSociety.org ( 415) 883, 3383
Keep Me Wild - Coyotes Pae 1 of California> DFG> Education ATTACHMENTE T 2 lqil HOME ABOUTTHE CAMPAIGN BLACK BEARS MULE DEER LION I nfu'ild animals are in trouble, and the problem is pe Wild Animals Ruined, Even Killed, by Peoplle' s Carelessness! who are careless witlh food and garbage.. Co otes la an im ortant role in the ecos stem, h r p y p y p co o` l s wnltg rurg4yb WILD PIG to keep rodent populations under control. They are by nature fearful of huarnans. If coyotes are given access to human food and garbage, their behavior changes. They lose w Laws Feeding coyotes is illegal in some communities Many local PRooPordinances make wildlife WILDLIFEcaution and fear. They may cause property damage. punishable by lines and to install wildlife- EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS They might threaten human safety. They might be killed. requirements Relocating a problem coyote is not an option because it only moves the problem to someone else' s neighborhood. proof garbage containers. fe Delp prevent deadly conflicts for these beautiful wild animals. f% Coyote country"' precautions Never feed or attempt to tame coyotes. The result may be deadly conflicts with pets or livestock, orcoyote-proof Containers serious injuries to small children. leo not leave small childrenor pet's outside unattended Install motion- sensitive lighting around the house. Trim ground- level shrubbery to reduce hiding places. Be aware that coyotes are more active in the spring, when feeding and protecting their young. If followed by a coyote, make loud noises. If this fails, throw rocks in the animal's direction. If a coyote attacks a person, (immediately contactl the nearest Department of Fish and Game or law enforcement office. use garbage cans that have a locking mechanism on the lid.. use a rope or elastic cord to secure the can to a fence or other solid object so that It cannot. be tipped over. Avariety of products are available to keep wildlife away from human food soaa!rces. Click l re for a list tra eer Stashu Your Food and Trashle' The ccsyote s ranggcovers avern the entire state of California.. Most Allowing coyotes access to human food and garbage is conflicts occur along( borders reckless and deadly. between urban and wild areas. httn:// v,tww.dfp. ca. gov/ keenmewild/ covote. litm] 19./30/ 2.011
Keep Me Wild - Coyotes Page 2 of 2 Coyotes primarily hunt rodents and rabbits for food, but will take advantage of whatever is available, including garbage, pet food, and domestic animals. Put garbage in tightly closed containers that cannot be tipped over. Remove sources of water, especially in dry download Crorbu,. r_e climates, Bring pets in at night, and do not leave pet food outside. Put away bird feeders at night to avoid attracting rodents and other coyote prey. Provide secure enclosures for rabbits, poultry, etc. 6V Pick up fallen fruit and cover compost piles. Ask your neighbors to follow these tips. Please respect and protect wild animals. Keep them wild. dewnl'rtiadovote ao-sten A campaign supported by the California Department of Fish andgame 0 2011 California Department of Fish and Game. Afl rights reserved. Website concept by OneWorld Communications, San Francisco www,oacom,co htfn- 1/ va,vw.dffy.(. q. gov/ keennilewild/ covote.htmi 12/ 3 0/ 2,01-3
ATTACHMENT 3 Wildlife Services (' S), a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service APHID, provides Federal leadership and expertise are to resolve wildlife conflicts that threaten the Nation's agricultural and natural resources, human health and safety, and property, As coyotes have became more common in urban and suburban settings, WS has received increased calls in every State to address coyote- Adult related damage. Often the damage is linked to human activity that attracts the Historically coyotes were mostcommonly found on the Great Plains of North America, Their range now extends from Central America to the Arctic. Except for Hawaii, coyotes live in all of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. More coyotes exist today than when the U. S. Constitution was signed, Almost no animal in America is more, adaptable to changing conditions than the coyote. Coyotes can live just about anywhere. They found in deserts, swamps tundra, grasslands, brush, and dense forests, from below sea level to high mountains. They have also learned to live in suburbs and cities life Denver, Los Angeles, New York, and Phoenix. One of the keys to the coyote' s success is its diet, A true scavenger, the coyote will eat just about anything. Identified as a killer of sheep, poultry, and deer, the coyote will also eat snakes and foxes, doughnuts and sandwiches, rodents and rabbits fruits and vegetables, birds, frogs,.. grass and grasshoppers, pet cats and cat food, pet dogs and dog food, carrion, and just plain garbage. Coyotes are active mainly during the night, but they can also move. about during the day. Most sightings of coyotes occur during the hours close to sunrise and sunset. coyotes weigh between 20 and 45 pounds. Females are generally smaller than males, and western coyotes are generally smaller than eastern coyotes. Coyotes look like small col' l' ie dogs. They have erect pointed ears, slender muzzle, and a bushy tail. Most coyotes are brownish gray in colon animals, WS can assist with with a light gray to cream-colored belly. However, a coyote' s color varies problems using approach. an integrated and may be somewhat darker or lighter depending upon the geographic region and the time of year. Most coyotes have dark or black hairs over their back and tail. FF a d 7 k &' l sr7 % easy r rir N
A high reproductive rate and the rapid growth of its offspring also aid in the coyote' s success. Coyotes courses breed in February and March, and pups are born about 60 days later. During this,time, territorial male animals coyotes do not tolerate: other canines in their territory; many conflicts between coyotes and domestic dogs result from this territorial behavior. An average coyote litter contains four or five pups, born in dens. In urban environments, dens can be in storm drains, under storage sheds, in holes, dug in vacant lots, parks, or golf courses, or any other dark, dry place. Coyote pups are cared for, fed, and protected walks with their owners in and near parks and golf within city limits. Calls to WS for help or information about urban coyotes often pertain to the attacking pets, eating garbage, or simply coming too close to houses or people on foot. Remember, all wild animals are unpredictable and caution is the watchword when they are around. Don' t ever put food out to lure them closer. Nearly all wild animal bites occur when people attempt to feed wildlife or treat them like domestic animals. Here are some steps you can take to reduce the chance of human- coyote conflicts: by both parents. The pups mature quickly and can e Do not feed coyotes! eat meat and move about well by the time they are e Eliminate sources of water, particularly in dry a month old. By 6 months, pups have permanent climates. teeth and are taught to hunt for food. During this 9 Bird feeders should be positioned so that coyotes time of pup rearing, the amount of food that coyotes cannot hunt and: eat increase significantly. As a result, table conflicts between coyotes and humans are common. It is not unusual to observe a family of coyotes feeders. get feed. Coyotes are attracted by bread, scraps, and even seed. They may also be attracted by the birds and rodents that come to traveling through urbanized areas such as parks or a Do not discard edible garbage where coyotes can golf courses. If food is deliberately or inadvertently providedby people, the pups quickly fear humans and develop a dependency on easy food get to it. learn not to 9 Secure garbage containers and eliminate garbage odors. sources. e Feed pets indoors whenever possible. Pick up The pups are fully independent at about 9 any months, and they disperse. During the next year, leftovers if feeding outdoors. Store pet and livestock feed where it is inaccessible to wildlife. these young adults may be seen as nuisances in 9 Trim and clean, near ground level, any shrubbery urban/ suburban areas while they seek safe living that provides h i d' i ng cover for coyotes or prey, areas away from established coyote territories. A e Fencing your yard could deter coyotes. The fence few pups may stay with the parents, forming family groups as population densities increase or where food is abundant, such as in urbanized areas. Coyotes adapting to an urban environment can become bolder because they are less likely to be harmed coyotes and more likely to associate people with an easy and dependable food source. Urban Area Coyote Coyotes have learned that small dogs and cats are easy prey. Newspapers across the country have carried stories of coyotes harassing leashed dogs on should be at least 6 feet high with the bottom extending at least 6 inches below ground level for best results. Don:'t leave small children unattended outside if have been frequenting the area. Don' t allow pets to run free. Keep them safely confined and provide secure nighttime housing for them. Walk your dog on a leash and accompany your pet outside, especially at night. Provide secure shelters for poultry, rabbits, and other vulnerable animals.
Discourage coyotes from frequenting your area. Use If you start seeing coyotes around your home or away property, chase them away by shouting, making loud noises, or throwing rocks. These steps may decrease the frequency of coyote sightings in your area if practiced continuously. However, coyotes are adaptable to change and are quick to learn new ways of survival. net-wire or electric fencing to keep coyotes, from livestock. Shorten the length of calving or lambing seasons. Confine livestock in a coyote- proof corral at night when coyotes are most likely to attack livestock. Use lights above corrals. Remove dead livestock so coyotes won' t be attracted to scavenge. Occasional sightings most likely will continue. By o Remove habitats that provide homes to natural making life for coyotes in your neighborhood more difficult, you will increase the likellhood that they will go somewhere else. Suburban/ Semi- rural Hobby farms" and " ranchettes" are more common today than ever before. Many Americans are enjoying a return to the rural lifestyle:, living on a few acres and keeping poultry, horses, and' other livestock. e prey of coyotes, like rabbits, from lambing and calving areas. Use strobe lights and sirens to scare coyotes away. Use guard animals, such as dogs, donkeys, and llamas, to protect livestock. Adlditional Information For more, information about this and other WS, Many of these new " farmers"' and " ranchers" are programs contact your WS State office at 1-866- 4 shocked to discover that coyotes kill and eat pets, poultry, and stock. WS suggests ( and offers technical assistance for) the following damage-. nonlethal methods to reduce coyote may USDA WS ( 1,866-487- 3297) or visit www.aphis. usda/ wildiifeaamage. WS, is not the sole source for wildllife damage management services; these services be available from private sector providers. WWildlife Services Protecting People I Protecting Agriculture I Protecting Wildlife USDA United States Department of Agriculture AnimM and Plant Health Inspection Service The U. S, Department of Agriculture( USDA), prohibits discrimination in all its programs and actill the basis of race, color, nationalorigin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual! orlentalbin, or maritail or family status, ( Not all prohibited bases apply to gall programs) Persons with disabilifles, who require aiternative means for communication of program inrormatlon( Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDAs TARGET Center at( 202) 720-2600( voice and TDD). To fille a complaint of discdmina lion, write USDA, Director, Office of Ovill Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20M-9410 or call( 202) 720-5964( VD[ce and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Mention of companies or commercial products does not imply recornmencialjon orendorsement by the USDA over others, not menfloned. The USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of any product menfioned. Product names are mentioned solely to report factually on avallabie data and to provide spedfic information.