■ Killing witnessed in city’s open space area; Benicia firearms law may have been violated
Benicia police are looking into broadcast reports that hunters shot and killed a family of coyotes in the city’s open space district, Lt. Mike Greene said.
According to residents who spoke to other news outlets, two men recently shot the animals, including the pups, then threw the bodies into the bed of a pickup truck and left.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife allows licensed hunters to shoot coyotes, which have no specific season as do some other animals. Nor are there limits on how many animals can be killed.
But Benicia has laws forbidding the discharge of a firearm within city limits, Greene said.
That covers BB guns and pellet guns as well as handguns, rifles, shotguns and other firearms, he said.
“Any hunting with (a firearm) is against the law,” Greene said.
In past years, some residents have complained about the presence of coyotes. In 2011, some residents of the Southampton subdivision who worried whether they or their pets would be attacked organized meetings during which they considered having coyotes trapped and removed.
Some have aired the matter before the City Council, as well.
However, others said they have coexisted with the occasional coyote by bringing in their pets and putting away pet food. Some have aimed camera lenses, not gun muzzles, at the wild animals.
Greene, a golfer, said he has heard coyotes as he plays golf, and hears stories of other police department employees who describe the animals’ yips and howls.
What he hasn’t heard yet is an actual complaint from a resident about the reported shooting.
Because no one has reported it to Benicia police, “we’re knocking on doors and talking to witnesses. We have no confirmed reports, so we are unable to confirm the media reports,” Greene said.
The department is taking the matter seriously, he said, because it involves shooting firearms in the city limits.
“We are doing an investigation,” Greene said.
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No harm, no foul. These predators need to be eliminated.
I’ve been hearing this story about the coyotes for the last week, and it’s one of those story’s that at first you wonder if it’s true…then you start thinking what if it is true …then you think…what will be next.
I’ve been walking the trails and shoreline of Benicia for the past 15yrs almost every day and I’ve seen such a splendid array of wildlife here including; Coyote, Grey Fox, Eagle (wow!) , Beaver, Otter, Turtles, King Snakes (beautiful), Mountain Blue Birds (spectacular color), and SO much more.
It has been my observation that this is a special place we live in, and that all this wild life is living within our ecosystem without much conflict to our lives. It seems the animals have managed to work around us despite our destructive ways, and we’ve all run across the things that peeve us as an injustice to the environment.
We treat the environment like we own it, but really we share it…so now what….do individuals get to decide what is right for our ecosystem and community through their interpretation of the law…if this is the case.
In any-case over all what I’d like to express is a feeling of appreciation for our ecosystem and the diverse wildlife that make their home here in Benicia, I think it’s valuable to our community and worthy of our protection.
I was actually in the open space off Cambridge Dr. a couple of months ago with my Golden retriever, who was off her leash. She ran ahead and began playing with what I thought was another dog, until I got closer and realized it was a coyote! They both exhibited playful posture and I got a couple of pictures of them together. Then the coyote ran off and my dog continued her walk. It was such an awesome and amazing experience!
It is fairly common that people endeavor to eradicate coyotes in rural areas due mainly to predation of livestock, as well as threats to children. That is probably alright, as well as fully legal. However, I’ve yet to hear about any livestock being taken by coyotes in Benicia State Park, nor have I heard about any encounters with humans. Perhaps the shooter is a dentist who was motivated by ego and a disposable income.