This is the letter I sent out to the representatives of the Park Department on Friday:
Updates: https://sfstandard.com/2024/07/01/san-francisco-coyotes-shot-girl-bitten/
https://www.macon.com/news/nation-world/national/article289696194.html
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/coyotes-killed-after-one-bites-child-sf-19549772.php
Jul 01, 2024 @ 18:57:07
Well, this is heartbreaking behavior on the part of the bureaucrats. It reveals their ignorance and narcissistic behavior that everything must be subject to their will, that they are the only ones who matter. What a charade—wanton and reckless killing of wildlife when there were so many other options available and offered.’
They need to be fired and run out of town with blazing pitchforks chasing them. I’m beyond disgusted.
Jul 01, 2024 @ 19:04:58
Thanks, Melinda. This apparently is being *solved* this way for *political purposes*. It’s a knee-jerk reaction which hopefully will come back to haunt them. :( Janet
Jul 01, 2024 @ 19:41:42
The San Francisco Parks and Rec department do not see the bigger picture. They would rather kill the problem rather than work with if it is a problem at all. They kill the coyotes rather than put up signs to educate people. They cut down the trees in fear that the may fall and hit someone. Never mind that the owls and the other flora and fauna suffer. Global warming rages on. Never mind that the coyotes and the owls eat rats to help lessen our rat problem at San Francisco. There needs to be oversight over San Francisco Rec and Park department. Between the coyotes being killed, the trees being sawed down and the herbicides used afterwards the city has gotten it wrong. Where are our supervisors to vote these guys out! Phill Ginsburg and the group I’m talking about. Where is the oversight?
Why is the city allowed to destroy nature in this way?
Reply
Jul 01, 2024 @ 20:05:00
Thanks, Lance. Yes they need an oversight committee, not just the commission. I have no idea how to get this accepted and passed.
Jul 08, 2024 @ 10:07:37
Does the California Department of Fish and Wildlife have a say in what city agencies do to wildlife on city property?
Jul 08, 2024 @ 12:13:29
These agencies all work together. They hold *unofficial* monthly meetings together.
Jul 08, 2024 @ 13:13:14
Hmmm . . . Here in Portland, Oregon the “powers that be” seem to be educated about coyotes. When an acquaintance warned me about “attack” coyotes on such-and-such street that had tried to “eat” her adult daughter’s tiny dog, I told her the coyotes were probably protecting their den and trying to scare the dog (and its leased owner) away by nipping at it. I emailed her your column on tips for dog owners when encountering a coyote, to pass along to her daughter.
She read it and laughed and said that her daughter would never follow those guidelines.
Then the next time I saw her, she said her daughter had called (I think it was Fish and Wildlife) demanding that they get rid of those “attack” coyotes; but the government agency told her that the coyotes were protecting their den and to walk her dog somewhere else.
She replied that she always walks her dog on that route and “can’t” change.
But then one day the daughter spotted the nursing mom coyote out foraging and felt female kinship with her, and called back to (Fish and Wildlife?) saying she wanted to feed the hungry mom coyote. They told her “no, don’t feed any coyote.”
Apparently the daughter has finally made that seemingly impossible huge life transition to walk her dog on a different street and leave the coyote den in peace.
Just wanted to let you know that in Portland, Oregon the “powers that be” are coyote educated. Thank you for the good work you do, Janet!
Jul 08, 2024 @ 15:44:18
Thank you, Lina! Nice story! Two things stand out in what you say. First, *feeling kinship* with the coyotes. If only more and more people could reach this point . . . Secondly, here in San Francisco there seem to be conflicting knowledge about coyotes from “the powers that be”. When they want to believe something, there’s no changing them. Hopefully, with our continued effort, they’ll arrive at where your Portland authorities are. Again, thank you for sharing: I was so happy to read this! Janet