How Can Davis Coexist with Coyotes? City Plan May be Adopted Tues.

When federal officials killed five coyotes at a Davis golf course last summer without first notifying city staff, the city quickly cut off its two-year-old agreement with the USDA-Wildlife Services.

The Davis City Council is set to adopt its own Coyote Management and Coexistence Plan at its meeting Tuesday.

The plan hinges on hazing, the process of conditioning wild coyotes to be afraid of humans instead of growing comfortable being near them.

"Some coyotes have become too comfortable in the close proximity of people," the city's plan says. "To safely coexist, it’s important to modify this behavior and attitude in resident coyote populations. Habituated coyote behavior needs to be reshaped to encourage coyotes to avoid contact with humans and pets."

The plan acknowledges the importance of coyotes as urban predators, but says if one attacks and injures a Davis resident, police will either kill the coyote or contact the California Department of Fish and Game. Homeowners or homeowner associations in town can also take some steps to protect their properties from coyote attacks, the plan points out:

"State law prohibits the use of leg-hold traps statewide and severely restricts use of other body-gripping traps and poisons," the plan says. "City and County regulation prohibits the use of firearms or projectiles within the city limits."

The item is placed on the Davis City Council's consent calendar, which means it will likely be approved with little or no discussion from officials. Residents hoping to weigh in can still do so at the meeting, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Davis City Council Chambers, 23 Russell Blvd.

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