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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08032004 - C.47 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS , C}11t 'a Costa FROM: FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMITTEE 011rlty DATE: August 3, 2004 0-47 SUBJECT: ACCEPT Recommendations by the County Fish and Wildlife Committee on Wild Turkey Management in Blackhawk. SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS ACCEPT recommendations from the Fish and Wildlife Committee on the referral from the Board of Supervisors regarding the Blackhawk Homeowners' Association request for assistance in dealing with the proliferation of wild turkeys in Blackhawk. APPROVE draft design and AUTHORIZE the FWC to print approximately 5,000 copies of a "Wildlife In Your Backyard!" brochure, consistent with the Board's previous action to authorize expenditure of$5,000 from the County Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund for this purpose. FISCAL IMPACT No impact to the general fund. The Board authorized the expenditure of$5,000 from the County Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund on April 27, 2004 to cover the costs of printing and designing the brochure. REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND On May 11, 2004, the Board of Supervisors referred to the Fish and Wildlife Committee (FWC) a request from the Blackhawk Homeowners' Association for assistance in dealing with the proliferation of wild turkeys in Blackhawk. The FWC was asked to: determine how widespread a problem the wild turkeys are; research how other communities deal with the issue; consult with the California Department of Fish and Came; and make recommendations as to a suitable course of action. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE: Gro'rdon Becker Chair, Fish&Wildlife Committee _RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON `APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS (ABSENT , r..-; .� AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact: Kae Ono(925/335-1230) ATTESTED cc: Community Development Department(CDD) JOHN, EETEN, CLERK OF County Administrator's Office THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Animal Services AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Clerk of the'Board BY ,..DEPUTY GAConservation\FWCiboard orderlTurkey and Final Draft of Brochure Aug 2004%V1�0�urkeys_bo.doc Accept Recommendations from the Fish and Wildlife Committee on Wild Turkey Management August 3, 2004 Page 2 of 2 Extent of the Problem Representatives from the California Department of Fish and Came(DFG)informed the FWC that on occasion they receive complaints regarding turkeys in residential settings. The FWC knows of no turkey population studies for the County generally or the Blackhawk area specifically. However, the issue of wild turkey interactions with homeowners appears to be part of a State-wide problem in places where humans live near wildlife habitat areas. In the last few months, several newspaper articles reported crop damage that was caused by wild turkeys in Napa and Sonoma Counties. The Draft Strategic Pian for Wild Turkey Management, which was published by DFG in 2003, lists the Sierra Nevada foothills and eastern and northern portions of the San Francisco Bay Area as locations where there are some conflicts between wild turkeys and people in residential settings. Strategies Implemented by OtherCommunities Some jurisdictions are being proactive in minimizing human activities that can alter populations and behavior of wild turkeys and other wild animals. Where humans feed wild turkeys,turkeys eventually may find it easier to obtain food from humans than from natural sources and may prefer to stay where humans provide food for them. Furthermore, feeding turkeys can aggravate conflicts between turkeys and people by leading to more aggressive behavior by the turkeys. East Bay Municipal Utility District(EBMUD)and East Bay Regional Park District(EBRPD) have ordinances that ban visitors of parks and watershed lands from feeding wild animals, including wild turkeys. If an individual violates this rule, EBMUD can issue a Notice of Violation. Also, DFG can issue citations for this activity. Private organizations, such as homeowners'associations, can also elect to include a clause in their covenants, conditions and regulations that prevents residents from feeding wild turkeys and/or other animals in the neighborhood boundaries. DFG Region 3's Recommendations and Actions Undertaken Related to Wild Turkey Management Supporting Proactive Actions by Citizens to Discourage Nuisance Behavior Caused by Wild Turkeys: The Department of Fish and Game provides a list of instructions to people asking for help in resolving problems with wild turkeys(see attached). The list of recommended actions includes, but is not limited to, not feeding wild turkeys, placing motion detecting sprinklers in yards, placing light fixtures on trees to reduce nesting, keeping dogs, placing fences around properties, and creating loud noises when wild turkeys are on people's properties. John Krause, a biologist for the DFG Region 3 Central Coastal Division told the FWC that discouraging people from feeding wild turkeys is the most important and easiest step to take to decrease the nuisance of wild turkeys in residential areas. The nuisance abatement tactics that are recommended by DFG are not likely to produce immediate, dramatic results. However, the tactics offer a long-term and humane response to unwanted contact with wild turkeys. Exploring Legislation to Prohibit the Feeding of Wild Turkeys: To prevent people from feeding wild turkeys, DFG may add wild turkeys to the list of species that people cannot feed legally. Current law(Section 251.3 of the Fish and Game Code, CCR, Title 14) prohibits people from feeding big game species such as deer. People can be cited for feeding deer or other big game species. Turkeys, however, are not under this prohibition. The Department of Fish and Game is conducting a feasibility study regarding adding wild turkey to the list of species that cannot be fed under the state provision. Creating a Way to Humanely Dispatch Wild Turkeys: In some cases, following the nuisance abatement techniques listed above is not enough to eliminate unwanted visits from wild turkeys. California Senate Bill 1153 (attached) would modify Sections 4181 and 13220 of the Fish and Game Code to enable people to obtain a permit to humanely dispatch unwanted wild turkeys. This bill is currently under review by the Senate and, if approved, would become effective in early 2005. The legislation would allow a person to apply for a permit to humanely dispatch wild turkeys. The FWC was informed that this permit would only be granted after evidence was presented that consistent application of other, less drastic actions to discourage wild turkeys from entering private properties had failed to achieve the desired result. If the law is passed and a permit were granted to deal with a problem in the Blackhawk area, turkeys there might need to be trapped before being killed for safety reasons. Discouraging Relocation of Wild Turkeys: John Krause and Warden Nicole Kozicki said that the DFG Region 3 Central Coastal Division does not support the relocation of wild turkeys at this time. While the Draft Strategic Plan lists relocation as an option for managing wild turkey populations in California, the Plan recommends relocation of turkeys only on an experimental basis. This approach"exports"rather than solves the problem. The department prefers that people involved with the wild turkey nuisance issue try to solve the problem by actively using the list of techniques that are suggested by DFG. Accept Recommendations from the Fish and Wildlife Committee on Wild Turkey Management August 3, 2004 Page 3 of 3 Published the Draft Strategic Plan for Wild Turkey Management: In the summer of 2003, DFG published the Draft Strategic Plan that lists several measures that can be taken to manage wild turkeys in the State of California. They include, but are not limited to, discouraging people from feeding wild turkeys, relocation of turkeys from selected public lands, developing hunting opportunities in areas not traditionally open to hunting, and identifying lands under the Department's control for turkey management and public use opportunities. Currently, the Plan is under review and DFG is not directed to undertake measures that are listed in the Plan. FWC's Sunnestions: The Committee reviewed and discussed DFG's management techniques and policies listed above at the May, June and July meetings. However, members of the Committee were unable to come to a consensus to recommend some actions as a group. One of the main differences among the Committee members was whether the FWC as a group encourages a long-term solution to manage wild turkeys or a short-term solution to manage wild turkeys. Some felt that following the consensus based recommendations in conjunction with other recommendations listed below will yield the best results. Consensus BasedRecommendations: a Supporting Proactive Actions by Citizens to Discourage Nuisance Behavior Caused by Wild Turkeys: FWC concurs with DFG that people should follow the list of instructions suggested by DFG to reduce wild turkey encounters. In particular,the FWC believes that any feeding of wild turkeys and/or any other wild animals should be stopped immediately. Not feeding wild turkeys and creating an environment unattractive to turkeys are the most humane methods to abate the nuisance. Measures include placing motion detecting lights and sprinklers in yards, frightening turkeys, and placing light fixtures in trees. o Provide Educational Program: The FWC strongly recommends educating County residents about not feeding wild turkeys or any other wild animals. Education will not immediately reduce the population of wild turkeys in residential neighborhoods. However, over the long run, people in Blackhawk as well as other parts of the County will be less likely to experience nuisance behavior and over-population of wild animals in their residential neighborhood if they are educated about how to deal with wild animals. The FWC is currently in the process of publishing a brochure that explains techniques that people can use to deal with wildlife in urban settings. Turkeys are one of the species included in the brochure. It will be available at many locations, including but not limited to, the County Department of Animal Control, the Interpretive Center at the EBMUD reservoir, and the Lindsay Wildlife Museum. Also the FWC plans to send it to developers that distribute welcome packets to residents of new housing developments. Upon request, the FWC will provide the brochure to the Blackhawk Homeowners' Association as well. • Encouraging Private Entities to Pass Resolutions to Ban Feeding Wild Animals: Homeowners' associations can elect to include a clause to their Covenants, Conditions and Regulations that prevents people from feeding wild turkeys and/or any wildlife. This may help to further minimize conflicts between wild turkeys and homeowners. Other Recommendations that Are Not Supported by All the Members of the FWC: • Use of Depredation Permit: If the State passes 5139153, people may be able to obtain a depredation permit early next year. Some members of the FWC felt that a depredation permit should be used as soon as possible, while others felt that depredation permit should be used only when people have applied nuisance abatement techniques consistently for a long period without desired results. Since dispatched turkeys are unusable, some FWC members felt that using a depredation permit was an unacceptable approach. Several members preferred dispatching turkeys to relocation. • Relocation of Wild Turkeys: Several members of the Committee believe that relocation of wild turkeys is not acceptable die to impacts on wildlife and habitat in the relocation areas. Others felt that there was "room" in relocation areas as long as the turkeys are managed by hunting. At the June Fish and Wildlife Committee meeting, Mr. Phillip Martinelli, a representative from the National Wild Turkey Federation, offered a free service to relocate some wild turkeys from the Blackhawk neighborhood and release them in wildlife refuge areas where they can be hunted. Also, the FWC understands that Mr. Tom Powers contacted Supervisor Greenberg's Office to offer his service in accepting relocated turkeys to his ranch. The Draft Strategic Plan recommends relocation of turkeys only on an experimental basis and the Blackhawk neighborhood is not determined as a chronic area to be considered as an experimental location by DFG. Relocation offers immediate results for the nuisance issue but may not solve the long- term turkey problem if people do not practice nuisance abatement tactics. Relocation may become an established practice and may not be free into the future. Without conducting research on the recipient locations and monitoring relocated turkeys, the effects of such a program will be unknown. Furthermore, relocation may create controversy with animal rights activists as the turkeys eventually will be hunted. AMENDER IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 10, 2004 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 26, 2004 SENATE BILL. No. 1153 Introduced by Senator Chesbro (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Wiggins) January 27, 2004 An act to amend Sections 4181 and 13220 of the Fish and Came Code,relating to fish and game, and making an appropriation therefor. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1153, as amended, Chesbro. Fish and Game Commission: Department of Fish and Game. wild turkeys:-depredation take-perm4s appropriations. (1) Under existing law, any owner or tenant of land or property that is being damaged or destroyed or is in danger of being damaged or destroyed by elk,bear,beaver,wild pig, or gray squirrels,may apply to the Department of Fish and Game for a permit to kill that animal, The department, upon satisfactory evidence of the damage or destruction, is required to issue a revocable permit for the taking and disposition of the animal. Existing law prohibits the use of poison to take a ,gray squirrel under that provision. This bill would.also allow any owner or tenant of land or property that is being damaged or destroyed by wild turkeys to apply to the department for a permit to kill those animals. The bill would also prohibit the use of'poison to take a wild turkey. (2) Existing law authorizes the commission, if a landowner or tenant applies for a permit to kill wild pigs or deer. in lieu of such a permit, and with the consent of, or upon the request of, the landowner or tenant, 97 -3 — SB 1153 1 commission. The permit shall include a statement of the penalties 2 that may be imposed for a violation of the permit conditions. 3 Animals so taken shall not be sold or shipped from the premises 4 on which they are taken except under instructions from the 5 department. No iron jawed or steel jawed or any type of 6 metal jawed trap shall be used to take any bear pursuant to this 7 section. No poison of any type may be used to take any gray 8 squirrel or wild turkey pursuant to this section. The department 9 shall designate the type of trap to be used to ensure the most 10 humane method is used to trap gray squirrels. The department may 1.1 require trapped squirrels to be released in parks or other 12 nonagricultural areas. It is unlawful for any person to violate the 13 terms of any permit issued under this section. 14 (b) The permit issued for taking bears pursuant to subdivision 15 (a) shall contain the following facts: 16 (1) Why the issuance of the permit was necessary. 1.7 (2) What efforts were made to solve the problem without 18 killing the bears. 19 (3) What corrective actions should be implemented to prevent 20 reoccurrence. 21 (c) With respect to wild pigs, the department shall provide an 22 applicant for a depredation permit to take wild pigs or a person 23 who reports taking wild pigs pursuant to subdivision(b)of Section 24 418 1.1 with written information that sets forth available options 25 for wild pig control, including, but not limited to, depredation 26 permits, allowing periodic access to licensed hunters, and holding 27 special hunts authorized pursuant to Section 4188. The department 28 may maintain and make available to these persons lists of licensed 29 hunters interested in wild pig hunting and lists of nonprofit 30 organizations that are available to take possession of depredating 31 wild pig carcasses. 32 (d) With respect to elk, the following procedures shall apply: 33 (1) Prior to issuing a depredation permit pursuant to 34 subdivision(a), the department shall do all of the following: 35 (A) Verify the actual or immediately threatened damage or 36 destruction. 37 (B) Provide a written summary of corrective measures 38 necessary to immediately alleviate the problem. 39 (C) Determine the viability of the local herd,and determine the 40 minimum population level needed to maintain the herd. 97 -5— SB 1:153 1 (b) To the department for expenditure in accordance with law 2 for the payment of all necessary expenses incurred in carrying out 3 this code and any other laws for the protection and preservation of 4 birds, mammals, reptiles, and fish. 5 (c) To the commission for expenditure in accordance with law 6 for the payment of the compensation and expenses of the 7 commissioners and employees of the commission. 0 97 List of Techniques that Residents are Encouraged to Use to Prevent Turkeys from Coming to their Properties (Provided by John Krause,a wildlife biologist from the DFG) There are a number of methods individuals have used successfully to reduce the turkey nuisances. First and foremost,it is important to ensure no one is feeding turkeys.Neighbors should find out if anyone is feeding the birds directly. It creates an attractive nuisance and can further augment their natural reproductive ability and can make the wild birds less wary. Often where one person is having a nuisance problem, another may enjoy the birds and not consider them a nuisance,and may be feeding them.Feeding turkeys should be discontinued or it will continue to be an attractive nuisance. "Negative reinforcement" can be very effective in discouraging turkeys. This will require repeated effort, and may prove to be very effective over the long term,especially as whole communities undertake efforts together. If turkeys roost in trees on someone's property at night, installation of flood lights shining into the trees make conditions that are likely to discourage turkeys from continuing to use them. There are motion-activated sprinklers that hook up to a garden hose for sale in many hardware stores that are reportedly very effective for discouraging turkeys. Alternatively, when turkeys are seen in one's yard, repeatedly spraying them with a hose may discourage them as well. Banging pots and pans or making other loud noises and chasing the turkeys away can also be effective if repeatedly done. If a property is not fenced,we recommend a fence be erected. It does not necessarily need to be erected around the entire property. Rather it needs to be erected only around the immediate area of the home that one would like to exclude the birds from. This may be especially appropriate for planted beds or other landscaping. Turkeys typically walk on the ground and fences can be effective in keeping them out. If individuals have a dog,keeping them in the area of concern is very helpful.In general,turkeys dislike interactions with dogs. In more rural settings, it is possible to hunt wild turkeys. Please make sure to contact your local law enforcement offices to obtain information on firearm discharge prohibitions. Turkey hunters typically use shotguns or archery as in the regulations.Hunting of turkeys is only allowed during the designated time periods. The Spring Season starts on the last Saturday in March, extending for 37 consecutive days. Bag Limit is one bearded turkey per day. Possession Limit is three per season ("bearded turkey" has a beard visible through the breast feathers). The Fall Season starts on the second Saturday in November, extending for 16 consecutive days. Bag Limit is one either-sex bird per season. It will likely be a combination of some or all of the above suggestions,sustained,that will help eliminate the turkeys from being a nuisance. If there are questions on what's described,individuals may contact: John Krause,Associate Biologist(Wildlife):East Bay and Marin Unit Office/fax(415)454-8050 CA Dept.of Fish and Game,Region 3: Central Coast P.O.Box 2949 San Anselmo,CA 94979