ST3507 - July 19_Layout 1 7/19/13 11:58 AM Page 3
NewS
JuLY 19, 2013
Residents report coyote sightings and attacks on the rise this summer in LB neighborhoods
SIGNAL TRIBuNe
3
WANT TO EAT OUT? what Food truck night who California Heights United Methodist Church where 3759 Orange Ave. when Friday, July 19 from 5:30pm to 8pm more Info Food truck Rancho a Go Go will be on site. Call (562) 5951996.
TASTES AND TUNES what Monthly fundraising event who Meals on Wheels and Belmont Heights United Methodist Church where 317 Termino Ave. when Saturday, July 20 from 5pm to 9pm more Info Monthly event takes place every third Saturday of the month and features five food trucks and live music.
Courtesy Elizabeth Vozzella
In this recent photo, a coyote traipses through a neighborhood on Roosevelt Avenue in Long Beach. Sean Belk Staff Writer
It’s that time of year again, when coyotes are prone to wander into suburban neighborhoods of Long Beach and surrounding cities in search of food, water or shelter, occasionally preying on cats and even small dogs. Theresa Hew, a 21-year California Heights resident, said that within the last two months she has found two cats “mutilated” on her property at Lime and 37th Street, prompting her to post fliers to warn residents about the coyote dangers. “It’s out of control,” she said. “People are getting tired of this. It’s gruesome, and it’s scary.” Kimberly Peterson, also a California Heights resident and owner of Mrs. Doolittle’s PetSitting Service, said it’s best to keep pets inside, adding that her neighbor’s dog was killed by a coyote. Peterson said the pet killings have a lot to do with the prevalence of feral cats in neighborhoods. She attributes the influx
of stray felines to the fact that residents have had to leave their cats behind due to foreclosures, adding that some people are irresponsible by not spaying or neutering their cats as well. “We’ve lost five or six feral cats on our block,” Peterson said. Coyotes and other wildlife, including raccoons, opossums and squirrels, are particularly active in Southern California during warm-weather months that make for suitable breeding conditions, explains Ted Stevens, director of Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS). “It gets really crazy around this time of year, every year,” he said. “As spring comes around and then summer, it’s warm, sunny, stays light longer, and all the animals are breeding.” In Long Beach, there were a few coyote sightings reported in June, and there was at least one pet attack reported this month, Stevens said. No coyote sightings or attacks on pets were reported in Signal Hill in the last few months, he said.
The recent coyote activity comes after similar reports last summer in which residents described at least five pets being attacked in the Naples area. Coyote sightings in neighborhoods are quite common, however, the department will respond if a coyote is spotted threatening a person or a group of people, particularly children, during the day, Stevens said. In general, however, ACS instructs residents to use “hazing” techniques to shoo the coyotes away and instructs residents not to run away from them. According to the ACS website, this practice may involve: standing tall; yelling and waving your arms while approaching the coyote; using a whistle, air horn or other noise device; banging pots and pans together; stomping feet; using a water hose or pepper spray; or throwing tennis balls or rocks at the coyote. Stevens said the goal is to make sure the coyote “maintains see COYOTES page 18
JUST KIDDING what Kidical Mass Neighborhood Bike Ride who Hosted by the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association (BKBIA) where Georgie’s Place, 3850 Atlantic Ave. when Sunday, July 21 at 1pm more Info After a ride and safety demo by U.S. Olympic cyclist Tony Cruz, kids and adults will bike for roughly two and a half miles, beginning and ending at Georgie’s Place. Email krista@bixbyknollsinfo.com, visit bixbyknollsinfo.com/kidicalmass.html or call (562) 595-0081.
WHO ARE YOU? what Monthly meeting who Questing Heirs Genealogical Society where Resurrection Lutheran Church Parish Hall, 1900 E. Carson St. when Sunday, July 21 at 1pm more Info The meeting will feature a talk by speaker Dawn Thurston. Visit qhgs.info or call (562) 598-3027. PARK IT ON THE LOT what Concerts in the Park(ing Lot) who Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association (BKBIA) where Alex Auto Repair & Electric, 3360 Atlantic Ave. when Monday, July 22 at 6:30pm more Info The free concert will feature music from The King Salmon Band, who will play songs from the 60s & 70s. The BKBIA has extended its series to four concerts. Visit bixbyknollsinfo.com .
FREE SPEECH ON FREEWAYS what Public hearing on 1-405 Freeway Project who Caltrans where Hill Classical Middle School, 1100 Iroquois Ave. when Wednesday, July 24 from 6pm to 8pm more Info The public will have an opportunity to comment and ask questions about the proposed Caltrans project to widen the I-405 Freeway from Costa Mesa to Orange County/Los Angeles County border. The purpose of the project is to ease traffic congestion and improve traffic, interchange operations and road safety to meet state and federal standards. The review period for the environmental impact report is from June 28 to Aug. 12. Visit octa.net/405/improvement . JAZZ IT UP what Latin Jazz & Blue Festival who Hosted by the office of 9th District Long Beach Councilmember Steven Neal where Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Ave. when Saturday, July 27 from noon to 8pm more Info This free community event will feature The Jazz Angels, New Blues Revolution, Dat EZ Band, Box Car 7, Susie Hansen Latin Jazz, and DW3. There will also be a kids zone, food trucks and a vendor fair. Call (562) 570-6137 or email district9@longbeach.gov .
TO YOUR HEALTH! what Health awareness seminar who Hosted by the office of 6th District Long Beach Councilmember Dee Andrews where Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, 1950 Lemon Ave. when Saturday, July 27 at 1pm to 5pm more Info Topics of discussion will be breast cancer, asthma and stress. There will be a question-and-answer session between each presentation. Parking is free, and healthy refreshments will be served. Call (562) 5706816. CALLING SMALL-BUSINESS OWNERS what Business-management program who Long Beach Community College and Goldman Sachs where Long Beach City College Building O-2, 4900 E. Conant Street when Tuesday, July 30 from 9:30am to 11am more Info Targeting local small businesses, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is a business-management education program that helps smallbusiness owners develop the skills needed to grow their businesses. Smallbusiness owners selected for the program will receive a scholarship to attend the business and management-education program, and get one-onone sessions with dedicated business professionals to develop a tailored business growth plan. Call (562) 938-5054 or email 10000sb@lbcc.edu .
GROOMING • FOOD • SUPPLIES • SELF-SERVICE WASH
Pet Wash 2OFF Self-Service
$
Not valid with any other offer. Expires 8/2/13. one per customer. BK store only.
$
4102 Orange Ave.
#113
at Carson St. Open Tues–Sun 562-427-2551
Grooming 5OFF Full-Service
on first visit or $3 off next visit. $25 min. Not valid with any other offer. Expires 8/2//13. one per customer. BK store only.
Expert Care • Gentle Grooming • Walk-Ins Welcome*
* AS SPACE PERMITS