A friend of this blog and friend of the Coyote, Randy Massaro in Los Angeles weighing in on thre refusal of Arcadia, Calif Town Supervisors to accept the fact that trapping and killing coyotes simply increases the coyote population and does not reduce "close encounters.............Witness the following "fair and balanced" Agoura Hills, Calif Supervisors science based comment: "Remember, as with many wild animals, the coyote, when left alone, will regulate its own numbers. If coyotes in a certain area are killed, die, or are relocated, the remaining members will fill the vacancies, either with larger litters or by allowing outsiders to move into the area. Flashing lights, tape recorded human noises, scattered moth balls, and ammonia-soaked rags strategically placed may deter coyotes from entering your property. Coyotes and all other predatory mammals are considered "opportunistic" hunters. It is your responsibility to afford fundamental protection for all of your domestic and companion animals".

From: RANDAL MASSARO <randalmassaro@verizon.net>
To: RICK.MERIL@WARNERBROS.COM
Cc: RANDAL_MASSARO@YAHOO.COM
Sent: Fri, December 3, 2010 11:12:58 PM
Subject: Coyote meeting one-sided

HELLO RICK, I KNOW YOURE VERY BUSY. BUT WE HAD THE COYOTE PRESENTATION THE OTHER NIGHT IN ARCADIA.,CA. ONCE MORE, NO MATTER WHAT PROOF WE BRING, NO MATTER WHO WE BRING TO PROVE THAT KILLING COYOTES DOES NOT WORK AND IS JUST A WASTE OF OUR TAX DOLLARS,.

I DONT CARE IF JESUS H. CHRIST CAME DOWN TO TELL THEM TO STOP--THE ARCADIA CITY COUNCILS MINDS ARE CLOSED--THEYRE EYES ARE BLIND--THEYRE EARS ARE DEAF TO WHAT WE ARE TELLING THEM--THEY REMIND ME OF THOSE 3 FAMOUS CHIMPANZEES OR MONKEYS  ( HEAR NO EVIL) SEE NO EVIL) SPEAK NO EVIL). 

I DONT KNOW IF YOU CAN OPEN THE ATTACHMENT. I WILL TRY TO SEND YOU A FEW MORE COMMENTS OR YOU CAN GO THE WEBSITE CALLED  ARCADIASBEST.COM  AND READ WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.  TAKE CARE MY FRIEND, SINCERELY RANDY MASSARO  1-760-245-3635

Coyote meeting one-sided

For all the fuss about whether to trap and kill coyotes or let them wander around Arcadia while we keep pets and children inside, lock our trash cans and carry coins in tin cans to scare them away, it was a little surprising and disappointing to see so few people from Arcadia and even fewer city officials at a "Coyotes in Our Midst" presentation by wildlife experts last night (Tuesday, Nov. 30) at Ayres Hall of the L.A. County Arboretum.

by Scott Hettrick

The Mayor was the only representative I saw from the City of Arcadia, which sparked the controversy a few months ago when they responded to calls from many residents whose pets had been attacked, killed, and eaten, by ordering a trapper to capture coyotes and euthanize them.

On the positive side, I counted about 225 people in attendance, maybe there were as many as 250, counting the people coming in and out throughout the two-hour presentation, including the media (click here for video news story by KABC-7).

But anyone who expected a balanced forum or even a heated exchange from both sides had to be disappointed — this was a service where the experts and animal rights activists were preaching to the converted out-of-towners. That became clear when the speaker chastised City officials for not fulfilling their pledge to present their own informational forum. It was emphasized later when the program hosts finally invited the audience to ask questions after more than 90 minutes of talking about the value and misconceptions of coyotes, and how to alter your lifestyle to protect yourself from coyotes.

There were more comments than questions, most imploring the City to stop trapping coyotes and many asking about similar issues in other cities such as Montebello.Kudos to Mayor Peter Amundson for walking into the lions den despite championing the trapping of coyotes. He sat in the very back and left after more than an hour of sitting and listening in the cold room, as did others, including Arboretum CEO Richard Schulhof. The Mayor was also being coaxed outside by the media for his TV interview.

He later told me that his goal was to remain an observer and not a participant.
"I did not hear anything that was really different nor would change my mind," he said in an e-mail. He too was frustrated by the lack of balance in the presentation or any consideration of the feelings of residents who are frightened when they see their pets eaten alive.

Mayor Amundson says he realizes education is important — the city has sent extensive information to residents about how to live with and protect pets and children from coyotes, including a recent Arcadia Newsletter listing many of the exact same precautions detailed at the program last night. But while education alone may eventually be enough, until residents get that message, City officials are responsible for protecting and addressing the concerns of taxpayers moreso than concerns about protecting coyotes, he said.

---NOT A FAIR AND BALANCED REPORTING JOB AS THIS HITS MY EYES AS THE REPORTER NOT WILLING TO BELIEVE THE PROVEN SCIENCE OF CO-EXISTING WITH COYOTES............THE SAME PROBLEM WE HAVE ACROSS THE USA WHEN PETS AND LIVESTOCK ARE TAKEN BY OUR KEYSTONE TROPHIC CARNIVORES...........IT IS ALWAYS THE COYOTE, BEAR, WOLF, COUGARS FAULT...............US HUMAN CARNIVORES ARE EXEMPT FROM FAULT BY OUR EGOTISTICAL WORLDVIEW THAT ANIMALS NEED TO BE TAMED AND CONTROLLED BY US HUMAN ANIMALS--WE HAVE A WAYS TO GO IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS--BLOGGER RICK

Perhaps the Mayor would have been more compelled to alter his view if he would have recognized more concerned Arcadia residents in attendance, which he also noted. But then, he would have been the only city official there to notice.
– By Scott Hettrick