Seal Beach staff posted a large coyote sign at the gate to Gum Grove Park Monday, June 9, after police and animal control officials received reports of an injured dog over the weekend.
Neither police nor Long Beach Animal Care Services could confirm that a coyote attacked a dog, but reports by Seal Beach residents on social media said the dog’s hind legs were injured by a coyote Saturday afternoon, June 7.
The dog’s apparent owner, identified online as Britt Michele, said her dad was with the dogs. As of press time, he has not contacted the Sun.
According to her online posts, the pug was treated for his injuries by a veterinarian and is now home.
Seal Beach Police Explorers distributed coyote education materials in the Gum Grove Park area Sunday afternoon, June 8, according to Seal Beach Police Sgt. Phil Gonshak, spokesman for the SBPD.
Gonshak said that police received reports of an injured dog on Saturday, but police were not told it was a coyote attack. However, police are apparently treating the incident as a coyote attack.
Ted Stevens, manager of Long Beach ACS, which provides animal control services to Seal Beach, said he was willing to talk to witnesses to the incident.
“We received an initial call for an injured dog at Gum Grove park on Sat June 7th (sic),” Stevens said.
“We were then called back and asked to close the call because the dog owner got the dog and took him to a Vet. We were never informed at the time that it was a coyote pet attack. We have attempted contact to get more details but haven’t been able to reach anyone yet,” he said.
“We would encourage residents of Seal Beach to take their dogs to the Arbor Park dog park, if they want to run their dogs off leash. Entry is free for Seal Beach residents and only requires a Seal Beach dog license. Anywhere else in the City requires a leash on their dog,” Stevens said.
Mayor Ellery Deaton said she believes it is the city’s responsibility to educate people about the coyote situation. “It is very sad when a helpless animal is harmed, especially in its own yard. On my website I have put all the information I have gathered on the subject in the last couple of years: http://www.ellerydeaton.com/coyotes-they-live-among-us,” Deaton said.
Mayor Deaton said a neighbor wrote to her suggesting the use of wolf urine to discourage coyotes.
“If anyone does try that method, I’d like to know if it works,” she said.
Last November, a panel of experts at a coyote awareness meeting at Seal Beach City Hall encouraged residents to “haze” coyotes in order to re-train the animals into fearing humans. “I have hazed several coyotes because we have many (homeless) cats in my neighborhood. Hazing does work, but they are not fearful, they walk away. At least everyone knows they are coming when you haze,” said Sharman Snow, a local animal activist.
Claire Brsk (sic) said making noise isn’t enough. “Grab some rocks and throw them at the coyotes, they will get the picture. Small enough rocks won’t really harm them but it will hurt and will help them stay afraid of people,” she said.
But not everyone believes yelling at coyotes is necessarily going to work.
“I believe hazing will work until the coyotes realize there is no true danger from a loud noise or humans and they will only grow more bold. The danger must be real or they will continue to adapt,” said Booyaa Pitman of Seal Beach.
At the Monday, June 9, City Council meeting, Councilman Michael Levitt said Orange County Flood Control workers installed a gate at the channel on the Leisure World/Naval Weapons station border that will keep out perhaps half the coyotes in the area.
