Huntington Beach considers plan to trap, kill coyotes

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The Huntington Beach City Council is considering a proposal to hire an expert to trap and kill coyotes roaming the coastal community.

Dozens jammed a meeting Monday to weigh in on the plan put forth by Councilman Devin Dwyer that would entail bringing in a licensed trapper to bring down the city’s coyote population, KTLA reported.

Public records show there have been more than 200 reported coyote sightings and 26 pet deaths linked to coyotes in the last year, KTLA said. Dwyer said he believed there were many more incidents that were unreported.

‘Many people I have spoken to fear that it is only a matter of time before a person is attacked by a coyote,’ he wrote in the proposal, ‘and they believe the time has come for the city to take appropriate action to respond to this threat to public safety.’

Resident Roberta Buchanan, one of the supporters of the proposal at Monday’s meeting, told KTLA she had seen the coyote problem get ‘worse and worse’ in recent years.

Bridget Johnson, who said her neighbors have had pets ‘ripped to shreds’ by coyotes, agreed.

‘It’s just a fear that you have on a daily basis,’ Johnson said.

Those opposed to the measure are advocating education about coyotes and non-lethal ways to scare the animals away, something resident Aaron Pai said worked ‘far better’ than euthanasia.

The council did recommend the proposal, but delayed on a vote until a future meeting.

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— KTLA