Belvedere's wildlife expert debunks coyote guide posted online

Belvedere’s wildlife consultant is warning residents that an online guide circulating about coyote-control laws contains dangerous misinformation that could lead to illegal and ineffective activities.

Rebecca Dmytryk of Moss Landing-based Humane Wildlife Control responded last week to a 15-page Google Doc posted Aug. 12 titled “A Definitive Guide to What the Law Actually Says About Coyote Control in Belvedere, CA.” The guide claims property owners can kill coyotes “at any time” and “in any manner” when protecting property.

The guide “contains multiple factual inaccuracies, misleading interpretations of the law and dangerous oversimplifications that could lead residents to engage in illegal, unsafe activities,” said Dmytryk, who was hired by the city in March 2023 to address rising coyote concerns.

The guide cites California Fish & Game codes that allow taking birds and mammals, but this applies only when they are “injuring growing crops or other property.” This requires active, ongoing damage, not just coyote presence or concern about potential threats, Dmytryk said.

The codes “are not blanket permissions for residents to kill wildlife at will,” she said. “‘At any time’ is not synonymous with ‘under any circumstances.’”

Read the complete story in our e-edition, or SUBSCRIBE NOW for home delivery and access to the digital replica.

Comment on this article on Nextdoor.