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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-02-03 City Council (7)TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: POLICE COMMUNITY SERVICES DATE: SUBJECT: FEBRUARY 3, 2003 CMR:156:03 PREDATOR CONTROL IN BAYLANDS AREA BY UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT This is an informational report and no Council action is required. The Palo Alto Baylands is home to at least four rare, threatened or endangered species; the California Clapper Rail, the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse, the Western Snowy Plover and the California Least Tern. The City has attempted to maintain the Baylands’ habitat in as natural state as possible. With many of the Bay Area’s natural habitats disturbed or lost, predation by mammalian predators on several endangered species has become a crucial management issue. The Rail’s tidal salt marsh habitat has been greatly reduced in area and is highly fragmented by levees, which provide easy access for red foxes, which were introduced to the area some years ago. Feral cats are especially detrimental mammalian predators on Palo Alto Baylands wildlife, particularly on the California Least Tern. Feral cat control near Tern colonies is critical for this species’ survival in the Bay. Approximately 12 years ago, the United States Deparm~ent of Agriculture (USDA), under the auspicious of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), began an active program to trap predators of these endangered animals. Areas of trapping include the Palo Alto Baylands, Golf Course, Refuse area and flood basin. The specific predators that were identified include feral cats, raccoons, red foxes, and skunks. The USFWS desig~ned the Predator Management Plan used by the USDA, to humanely and selectively trap animals causing the death of the protective species. Initially, traps appeared in the Palo Alto Baylands area with no explanation or identification. Staff soon discovered that Federal Governmental agencies were responsible for the trapping. The USFWS and USDA have total jurisdiction in predator control and have the authority to conduct the trappings without any input from local jurisdictions. However, to ensure that the trapping program was conducted in such a way as to protect the City’s interests as well as the animals, discussions were held with the USDA and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the agencies was deve!oped in 1992. The MOU (Attachment 1) was designed to govern the practices of wildlife specialists employed or contracted by the USDA while pursuing, capturing or destroying harmful animals in the Palo Alto Baylands and other properties owned by the City of Palo Alto. Each year, CMR:156:03 Page 1 of 3 the USDA provides an annual report (Attachment 2) to the City’s Superintendent of Open Spaces that details patrols, number and species of animals captured; capture method and disposition of the animals. Through the MOU, the City of Palo Alto is able to ensure that the current trapping activity is staying within the agreed upon established parameters. The MOU requires that the City be kept informed on a regular basis about the status of the program and trapping activities and that the City’s Communications Center be notified before trapping occurs on Palo Alto land. The MOU also stipulates that feral cats must be surrendered to the Palo Alto Animal Shelter. During 2002, the USDA trapped one feral cat, which was turned over to the Animal Shelter. The last notification from the USDA was about six months ago when it notified the Communications Center. It appears that its notifications have not been in compliance with the MOU. While the USDA did post signs in the Baylands, there was not a contact phone number provided on the signs. Several groups, including the Little Blue Society and Silicon Valley Animal Rescue, began distributing flyers declaring the Baylands as a "killing field". As a result, numerous contacts have been made with the City Council. Staff believes that the predator control is necessary to protect the endangered species. City staff will be meeting with USDA, USDFW, and a representative from Congresswoman Echo’s office to ensure that the conditions of the MOU are complied with in the future. RESOURCE IMPACT No City funds are expended for this predator removal program. Palo Alto is one of the cities that does not pay for predator control. POLICY IMPLICATIONS This program is consistent with City’s Comprehensive Plan Policy N- 1 to manage existing public open space areas and encourage the management of private open spaces areas in a manner that meets habitat protection goals, public safety concerns, and low impact recreation needs. ATTACHMENTS Attachment l : Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Palo Alto and the USDA regarding Predator Control in the Baylands Attachment 2:2002 Annual Predator Management Report from USDA CMR:156:03 Page 2 of 3 PREPARED BY: SANDI STADLER Superintendent of Animal Services LYNNE JOHNSON Assistant Police Chief DEPARTMENT HEAD: PATRICK DWYER Chief of Police PAUL THILTGEN Director of Community Services CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: EMILY HARRISON Assistant City Manager CMR:156:03 Page 3 of 3