Police Lt. Sam Agaiby said that the three-point coyote-control plan the City Council approved on Monday evening, elevates Culver City “far in front of” other L.A. County communities combatting similar invasion problems.
After the Police Dept., led by Lt. Agaiby, hosted two information meetings for the vulnerable residents of the hilly, already invaded Culver Crest neighborhood, the Council passed a strategy intended to “manage the coyote issue.”
The recent spate of coyote invasions may be the worst in memory. Why? What changed?
“Some people,” said Lt. Agaiby, “are saying it is because of the drought. Another reason is that peole just don’t behave appropriately toward wildlife. They can’t resist feeding them. It may feel okay, but when people do that, they are conditioning wildlife that it is okay to be around humans. We are habituating them. We are training them that we are a food source, and that makes them more comfortable around humans.”
Since last June, a small but unknown number of coyotes – possibly as few as two – has wandered perilously close to Crest properties.
The Council plan, in Lt. Agaiby’s words:
- “Educate the public to reduce the attractions bringing them into the neighborhoods. Do not feed coyotes – or wildlife in general – and do not give them water.
- “Enforce the laws pertaining to wildlife feeding and
- “Third is our response to the aggressive encounters” that have led to the coyote crisis.
“Lately the situation has calmed down,” Lt. Agaiby said. “We have not had as many sightings as we had a few months ago.”
He calls the change a matter of timing.
“This is mating season,” Lt. Agaiby said. “But this is the calm before the storm. Comes spring, that is when they start having their young.”
Is the coyote invasion of last year likely to be repeated?
“It could,” Lt. Agaiby said. “Our intention is (to prevent a recurrence) since we are implementing this plan and organizing with the community.
The Police Dept.’s stentorian message is:
Do not feed coyotes, or any other preying wildlife.
This only encourages them to hang out and make return journeys “from their habitat, wherever that is,” Lt. Agaiby said. “We are far ahead of the game compared to other cities. We are early in addressing this.”
