Also, does anyone know anything about the first man? Was he homeless?

I hope I was pretty clear with where the source of the problem lies, too.

A short story – a “park acquaintance” of mine called me yesterday asking about the coyotes and relating how one comes up to his car all the time in Griffith to be fed. He then told me that =>>he feeds them<<= and I gave him a 30 minute ear-full. I thought my friends had more sense than that.

Looks like we all have a lot of educating to do.

Donna, Park Rangers cannot use guns – any guns – by Rec and Parks department policy. (They are certified if they are peace officers, but the department has a policy otherwise). That is why they cannot use paintball guns. Animal Services, and professionals like Greg Randall, handle these things.

Office of Public Safety is the other agency, and unless their officers are ex-park rangers or are specifically assigned to LA Zoo security, they pretty much know ZERO about wild animals. They receive peace officer training and that is just about all.

That said, OPS should absolutely be citing for illegally feeding wildlife. However, OPS's record with citing for what are considered lesser crimes is pretty poor, unfortunately. That is a whole other parks issue in and unto itself.

I didn’t know you actually use paintballs – very creative, effective, and I salute you. And thank you for info on the fine.

However: There were 9 coyotes killed, not 8, which F&G & USDA told me directly, in this post. And at least 7 of those dogs did nothing.

I hope there are more effective measures after paint balls than to randomly start shooting animals. (I know that you yourself would never suggest doing this.) Let me ask you, or ask the city: has anyone ever BEEN fined for feeding the animals? Even cited? I know the Rangers can only cite, unfortunately – I don’t know why their hands are tied, as this certainly makes the park less safe. I don’t know if those other safety people, forget their name, can do anything more.

I will not say please don’t feed the wildlife, I will say Do Not Feed the Wildlife as you can be fined $500.00 to $1,000.00 dollars, be arrested and spend 6 months in jail. That is violation of L.A.M.C. 53.06.5 Feeding of Non-Domesticated Predators Prohibited.

Thank you,

Officer Gregory Randall, Wildlife Specialist for the City of Los Angeles Animal Services.

To learn more, visit the Fish and Game “Keep Me Wild” site at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild and the Los Angeles Animal Service site at: http://www.laanimalservices.com/aboutani_wildlife.htm

Could have been from some other department, or more likely just someone taking a nap in the park. I see guys doing this all the time, both in an innocent manner and those who are looking to indulge in lewd conduct and are waiting for the right lover boy to come along (creeps). I’m in the park 800 hours a year, often more. I see alot.

Mostly, its just dudes taking naps during their lunch hour or break. Women would never feel safe enough to just take a nap out in the open somewhere, but lots of guys do. I’ve even seen LAPD and CHP on breaks getting a quick catnap. The park is a nice place to be 99% of the time. :-)

OK, on the County deal, Animal Services probably files a report to Fish and Game. MDs must report animal bites to the county health department. pretty sure I said that. I think Fish and Game is the lead state agency on these issues from the wildlife end of things – while LA Co Health is the lead agency for the health/disease end of things. Fish and Game is going to get the report and make a decision, or somebody is going to be in big big trouble. The agency not required to be told is Rec and Parks quite honestly. A courtesy notification would eventually be made (one would hope!), and that is what happened here.

I like giving you work to do. You’re an excellent researcher!

Fines are good. Enforcement is needed, as is education. You and I both know the state of funding for the department tasked with both – basically non-existent. So this is going to be hard to make changes, but I’m hearing Rec and Parks is going to do it. They have to. We all agree on that.

First, thanks for all the work writing this.

I agree, they should have reported it to the Rangers first thing. However, as one city person told me…the first person likely WAS a city employee. Maybe a ranger himself? I hope not. In any case, they didn’t.

Do you have a link that says the County reports to F&G? Because as I said, Dr. Ehnert says they don’t.

I agree the feeding is unacceptable. But I don’t see much diff between that and leaving all your garbage around for them to root through. In both cases, people have to stop. Fines would be a good solution to both.