Berkeley Man Admonished For Issuing Coyote Bounty: Report

BERKELEY, CA — A California Fish and Wildlife warden admonished a Berkeley hills man for issuing a $250 bounty for “all dead coyotes” in a social media post, Berkeleyside reports.

Hadley Louden called for killings of the animals in a social media post after witnessing a coyote mall his cat Moka to death Aug. 16 outside his Cragmont Avenue home.

“As a city Berkeley has clearly lost the will, no doubt in part because of the cost,” Louden on Nextdoor. “That’s why we are offering a $250 Reward Offered for all Dead Coyotes!

“Are you tired of Coyotes threatening your homes, children and pets….. Government hands seem tied here, so we’re taking an old-fashioned approach.”

A California Fish and Wildlife warden admonished Louden in a phone call in which he told the East Bay man that his offer to pay for the killing of wildlife violated state law, the report said.

Capt. Patrick Foy of Fish and Wildlife’s law enforcement division told Berkeleyside that he was aware of such bounties being issued in rural areas, not the backyard of one of the world’s most prestigious university.

“… I haven’t heard of someone in a place like Berkeley putting out a post and offering a bounty.”

Louden rescinded the bounty after being contacted by the agency, Foy told Berkeleyside.

Coyote attacks have become more common in recent years, with several high-profile Bay Area incidents making headlines.

Earlier this year an East Bay coyote was captured after biting five people including two small children aged 3 and 2.

The rise in coyote attacks is largely attributed to development encroaching into wildlife habitat, leading to more encounters between humans and the animals.

The greater frequency of encounters has led to coyotes losing their instinctive fear of humans, The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

“This has been an ongoing issue,” said Lidia D’Amico, a biologist studying the animals told The Chronicle.

“The coyotes are losing their instinctive fear of people.”

San Francisco’s Animal Care & Control has received reports of an ‘egregious coyote feeder’ in Golden Gate Park, SFGate reports.

Read more in Berkeleyside