Random coyotes tortured and killed in Griffith Park.
Today I saw visitors come here looking for “coyotes killed in Griffith Park” and I knew my day was ruined, even with the start of Dancing with the Stars tonight.
From LA Unleashed, an LA Times blog:
Two recent incidents in which people were bitten by coyotes in Griffith Park have caused wardens to take an unfortunate step: dispatching U.S. Department of Agriculture wildlife services trappers to kill some of the park’s coyotes.
The second bite happened Wednesday, when a man apparently napping near the park’s Travel Town section said he awoke to find a coyote biting his foot. He was not seriously injured, wildlife biologist Kevin Brennan of the Fish and Game department told The Times.
In response to the incidents, USDA trappers shot and killed seven of the park’s coyotes, owing to a policy that coyotes should be captured and killed only in the instance of an imminent threat to public safety.
(So if someone got a bug bite, they would kill all the bugs in the park?)
But, our colleague Tony Barboza notes in his article on the subject, authorities do not know if the coyote or coyotes that bit the two park visitors were among the seven killed.
LAist has some more details, or not:
Details regarding either incident, for example why a man was asleep in the park at night, or under what circumstances the August bite occurred, have been scant.
LA Now, yet another LA Times blog – I mean how can there be too many blogs – like, 30 and counting, for one paper? – says I’m not the only totally pissed off person at this news:
The howls echoing through Griffith Park today are coming from joggers, parents and nannies — not coyotes. Park visitors are angry with wildlife officials’ decision to trap and shoot coyotes in the 4,210-acre mountain park.
Last week an editor that I highly respect said that he had read my last post, about our lack of essential fire engines for wildfires in LA and LA County, and said he was so impressed by my research, that he thought it read like something in the New York Times! Wellll….! I know when I’m being flattered, because someone wants me at a good price! But you know, he’s right about the research. I do a ton of research on things I write about, and before I started my gig as cartoonist for Slate this year, I did a lot of work for this blog.
In May of 2008 I investigated the coyote shootings in Lake Arrowhead. Two small children got bitten, and one got “stalked.” In response to this, California Fish & Game killed 26 random, pointless coyotes. I know, because I talked to some of the killers.
Henry Morse, of Calif Fish & Game said that CF&G doesn’t have enough officers – only 200 in the state – to go after all the animals that “need” to be killed, so they make requests of the USDA Wildlife Services to get specialists to do the job. Even though state law requires killers to use padded leg-hold traps, and they’re usually not allowed to be used in any way, Mr. Morse said “we try.” Later he said, “the law doesn’t require that the trap has to be padded. An iron snare is okay, too.”
Here is a complete report on California laws and the Fish & Game approach to taking care of coyotes in Southern California, written by John Turman and 3 other USDA people. (I had a call in to Mr. Turman that he never returned.) Notice that it is called Wildlife Damage Management Conferences; I found out from Carol Bannerman, PR for the USDA in Maryland, that their title is Wildlife Services now, but 10 years ago it was Animal Damage Control. That is because the USDA was started not to PROTECT any wildlife, but to protect farmers and their precious crops from animals; the USDA Mission Statement was, “to protect the American livestock industry.” Just in case you wonder exactly how powerful the meaty beef lobbyists are in this country.
In the report, it lists important laws in California regarding wildlife. The first one is a BAN ON LEGHOLD TRAPS. This is because these traps are horribly torturous for the animal, and trappers obviously don’t sit and watch the traps – they leave them for days, and return when they feel like it. The animals suffer for hours or days, thirsty, starving, in unbearable pain. And for coyotes, it’s emotional fear and agony. This is why you occasionally see coyotes with 3 legs; in their fear and grief, they gnaw their own legs off to get away. I have personally seen several coyotes like this, both in Los Feliz and here in Silver Lake (both times within a mile or nearer to Griffith Park.)
Once I saw a coyote with only 2 legs. This was before I saw the Oprah show, where she loves to parade weirdos and freaks, and had a 2-legged dog on. The dog on Oprah had 2 hind legs. The coyote I saw had one on either side, kitty-corner. I was so shocked and distressed that my heart started to pound, and I saw red spots – I had to fight not to faint. I just couldn’t believe he could live like that. He was in a group of 3 other coyotes; obviously his pack, who took care to share food with him, as he couldn’t have hunted much on his own.
Yet in spite of the law AGAINST leghold traps, that is exactly what they did to kill our 7 coyotes!!!! What happened after they suffered in the traps? Well, then they shoot them. Sometimes they use cyanide bullets. It takes the animals over 2 minutes to die. Cyanide is not allowed in prison executions because it is cruel and painful. Well, no one ever said USDA killers were good sports.
Other laws listed in the report say it’s illegal to feed coyotes, and or to relocate them. I have heard there are signs in Griffith Park not to feed them, but I have not seen them. I talked with one USDA killer, Ryan, who was killing in Lake Arrowhead, and he explained that coyotes would “starve or go nuts ” relocated into a forest, without sidewalks, or garbage, or digging in flower beds. So there’s some brilliant reasoning and justification, right there, Ryan, asshole.
This is the 4th law:
Legal Status of Coyotes:
Chapter 6, Section 472 (a) in Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) describes
coyotes as nongame mammals. As such, coyotes may be taken at any time of the year and in any
number, except as prohibited in Chapter 6.
No protection at all. Note the word, “taken.” Everyone I talked to at F&G and USDA used this word, taken, instead of killed. What does it feel like when your job is to KILL, for no reason whatsoever? GUILTY, I imagine.
If you want to really make yourself sick, read this USDA report on how many animals were “taken” or KILLED in California in 2007. These reports are hard to find on the website, but there is one for every state. It explains exactly how each animal was killed, because, after all, it’s a by the number government agency. Who knew 8000 red-winged blackbirds were that dangerous to the people of this state? 500 beavers were killed, over 2000 raccoons. Over 100 bears were bad bears. Even a parakeet was killed in a trap. I have a parakeet.
In total, the USDA and Fish & Game killed over 64,293 animals and birds in California in 2007. This brings tears to my eyes.
How come the LA Times or national magazines never report this? How much power is one government agency allowed to have?? Obviously, they have to kill, to justify even having an agency. The animals in California pay the price.
The asinine thing, of course, is that they don’t know which coyotes did what. Did someone really get bitten? Obviously it was a homeless man sleeping in the park, but it sounds like the coyote sniffed his filthy feet – they said no damage done! So…is this some “lesson” to the coyotes? I’ll tell you this – it lessens my respect for this city and its leaders, that anyone in their right mind thinks that killing 7 random coyotes is going to make ANYONE feel safer, when we hear about random vagrants sleeping in the grass of the park all night.
And I plan to find out who ordered these killings.
Donna Barstow
Griffith Park is the 2nd biggest park in the US, and I'm just the person to investigate it! I've lived here for over 25 years. I was part of the PROS Committee in Griffith Park Neighborhood Council and am on the Housing & Tenants Rights Committee in the Silver Lake NC. I'm in the LA Press Club, and you can find some of my articles in the LA Weekly and the Los Feliz Ledger. I'm a cartoonist for Parade Magazine, The New Yorker, LA Times, Slate, & most major media. Questions and contacts welcome.
18 Comments
Above The City
It’s so sad. I am glad we have them on our hill still, although their numbers seem to be dwindling too since all the construction boom of a couple years ago took away a lot of their runs.
Shawn B
I really hope you do find out who ordered the killings. This is an outrage and a completely unneccessary act. It’s not bad enough that we have ruined the environment these animals called home (through development and arson, among other things), but now we punish them for behaving like animals.
Will Campbell
What an awesome, eye-opening post Donna. Thanks for digging into this matter.
PS. I posted up my own two cents under the headline “The Great Griffith Park Coyote Massacre Of 2009” over on LA Metblogs.
paul
Have you ever read anything about ecological management and the devastating consequences of overpopulation? I am saddened by any loss of animal or plant-life, but am appalled at the level of righteousness considering your lack of any sort of research into the subject.
Do you REALLY think the recession-minded government is spending its time and money on eliminating animals for no rationale? Do you think ANY policy is adopted in this manner?
The real problem here is our proximity to and interference with these animal’s natural habitats. There are better ways to avoid reaching the point we have gotten to, or alternatives to this method of solving the problem, but your post discusses NONE of it.
Tim
hi
Please keep us updated on your research to confirm who authorized this. This will likely boil down to the improper judgement of one or two people whose names need to be made public.
Thanks and keep the pressure on!!!
todd
so, we should let animals (coyotes) bite people, kill other animals (dogs and cats) and turn away because it is just nature at work? Sorry, I don’t value violent little killing machines in my park and neighborhood. And, btw, humans have every right to live wherever they want on this planet and make it safe for their existence.
Evan
I’d also be interested in specific names or contact information of those involved – in the meantime I plan to write to every agency named in these reports.
Todd, you’re absolutely right that we have a right to safety, but you’re complaining that the fire burns you when you put your hand in it. Nothing short of extinction will stop coyotes, or any part of the native California ecosystem, from behaving according to its nature. I hope (local) extinction is not what you’re suggesting. Our rights come with the responsibility to act with care and consideration; use a scalpel, not a chainsaw. Killing is easy for us, and we should do so with restraint.
I absolutely support the killing of an animal that has been shown to attack humans and have no fear of them. There is no evidence that this was done in this case. The actions taken will only encourage further carelessness and ignorance in our wild areas and around these animals.
jen
here here Evan — well put !
as is this post !
Thanks for the research – i agree 100% that this act was atrcious ! and please keep us updated with what you find out !
Griffith Park Wayist
The problem is due to people hand-feeding these animals, and the animals lose their lives over the misguided and selfish actions of a few people.
Please read this article which describes the resulting action when a predator animal bites a human in a public park.
http://griffithparkwayist.blogspot.com/2009/08/cost-of-feeding-wildlife-far-greater.html
Cost of feeding wildlife far greater than the price of food
Cruising isn’t an activity reserved for humans in Griffith Park. Right now there are a number of coyotes that continually cruise picnic areas and specific points along park roads for one thing and one thing only: handouts. These freeloaders know that if they sit there long enough, someone will throw them a goodie. This activity – feeding the wildlife – is VERY ILLEGAL for a number of reasons….
And in response to this latest terrible incident:
http://griffithparkwayist.blogspot.com/2009/09/hand-fed-coyotes-bite-two-in-griffith.html
Thank you.
Griffith Park Wayist
Laura Cordovano
Who do we protest to over this?
Donna Barstow
Thanks, everyone. I’ll try to get a couple of email contacts.
Paul, this has nothing to do with management or overpopulation! That’s absurd. 7 coyotes (and the real number killed is 9 – I’ll have more info tomorrow) isn’t a dent into the big population of the park. This was a RE-action, not a decision by anyone.
Todd, no one values violent little killing machines. That’s why San Bernadino killed 2 dogs in the Avenues roundup yesterday. I don’t value people who kill either, btw.
Laurie Pepper
Donna, thanks. Please let us know who to complain to.
Elaine
Dear Donna,
Thank you for being a hero in this post. I am sure the animals at Griffith Park thank you as do we. I am emotionally drained after hearing the news about the killings of the coyotes at Griffith Park.
Being a frequent park visitor,I became used to the familiar faces of the coyotes at Griffith Park and saw them as “hosts” of the park. Many park visitors will agree. Now, knowing they are gone and were killed in a most unnecessary/inhumane fashion, I feel very saddened and angry and I hope that you can find out who ordered these killings.That person or persons NEED TO BE REPRIMANDED.
This was a cruel injustice to the coyotes and it will not solve any problems. I cannot believe as a citizen of the USA, I would ever hear of such barbaric measures taken to eradicate the wildlife of our community parks.
We are all on your side and I am hoping you find the villian who started all this.
Best of luck,Elaine
Elaine
UPDATE . MY APOLOGIES IF THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN POSTED.
HEY GUYS! SPREAD THE WORD! THIS IS TIME SENSITIVE. I RECEIVED AN EMAIL ABOUT A TOWN MEEING THAT WILL BE HELD ON THIS SUBJECT. WE ARE THEIR VOICE SO PLEASE ATTEND! WE CAN HELP SAVE THE FUTURE COYOTES.
Councilman LaBonge’s office said that they are holding a public information meeting on what occurred at Griffith Park Tuesday, Sept 29 at 6:30 at the Russian Orthodox Church (Russian Orthodox Church, 650 Micheltorena St,Los Angeles, CA 90026-3623.)
Jill
Coyotes in the western U.S. are FAR from being endangered. And yes, we should really try NOT to be reactionary….
Donna Barstow
Jill, no one has mentioned endangered species. What animals living in an urban area are endangered? Yet the civilized thing to do is THINK, not kill.
Let me guess: you live in a midwest state, that has a different view of animals or life, am I right?
Border Terrier
Awesome post, <3 animals :)
Lisa
Please share my comments..
They want to start killing coyotes in Los Angeles: I understand the problem with the coyotes, but people need to think about the outcome of having more rodents if they start killing the coyotes. Isn’t there another way to protect pets / animals from coyotes? Coyotes are attacking other animals, dogs attack cats, cats attack mice, and so on and so forth!
Lisa