$200 Charge OKd for Trapping Coyotes

Residents who want permission from the city to trap and kill coyotes around their property will be charged $200 under a new policy adopted by the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday.

The council unanimously adopted the recommendation of its Public Safety Committee to charge a fee for coyote-trapping, which has been condemned by animal-rights activists.

The $200 fee was part of a compromise effort by the city to accommodate the activists, as well as residents who pleaded for more traps to help curb a growing coyote presence in their neighborhoods.

Residents who request traps must first meet certain requirements, such as erecting fences to discourage coyote attacks. In addition to paying the $200 fee, residents must put down a refundable $100 deposit under the new policy.

The council also authorized the city Animal Regulation Department to fill six positions left vacant because of a hiring freeze. Animal regulation officials had complained of being short-staffed and said the positions would be necessary to implement the new trapping policy.