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Neighbors pleased about Game and Fish handling of coyote problem Public Meetings Apr 19, 2005 PHOENIX - How would you handle a chronic coyote problem in your neighborhood? That's what Arizona Game and Fish Department staffers asked about 175 people at a recent meeting to address the coyote issues now facing several communities in the West Valley. "No particular event occurred to make us call this meeting," says Joe Yarchin, a Game and Fish urban wildlife specialist in the Phoenix/Mesa area. "We just wanted to address the consistent calls from the west side of the Phoenix area, including Sun City West, Sun City, Sun City Grand, Westbrook Village, Surprise, and El Mirage." Several Game and Fish staff members spoke at the March 30 meeting at the Palm Ridge Recreation Center. Some subjects covered include coyote behavior, pet safety, ways to minimize conflicts with coyotes, and the role of community involvement in dealing with coyote problems. A questionnaire given out to the audience shows strong support for coexisting with the coyotes and working with Game and Fish to handle the issue with community input. Of those who handed in the questionnaire: 1. Eighty-five percent say they don't feel they have a serious coyote problem in their neighborhood. 2. Eighty-eight percent say they're satisfied with Game and Fish efforts to address coyote concerns in the West Valley. 3. One-hundred percent say they support the Game and Fish plan to have community involvement in resolving coyote concerns. 4. Ninety-three percent say they would support a law or ordinance to prohibit feeding coyotes. 5. Eighty-one percent say they would support humane, lethal removal of offending coyotes. The department will continue to monitor coyotes in the West Valley. Areas where the coyotes show direct aggression toward people will be evaluated for coyote removal efforts. The department will also continue public education efforts and contact property management administrators, community leaders, and residents to develop and coordinate a community-based coyote management plan. |
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