Photo courtesy of USFWS.

Animal rights groups and a landowner with spaghetti noodles for a spine have combined to put a halt to a southern California city’s plans to snare and kill coyotes that have been threatening its residents and their pets.

While it probably comes as no surprise that the coyote extermination plans made by officials for the city of Carson were protested by groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Animal Welfare Institute and Project Coyote, the action to block the trapping by one of the targeted properties strikes us as completely convoluted—even by California standards!

Carson officials initiated the trapping plans after continuing complaints from residents of mobile home parks in the northwestern part of the city. Repeated coyote sightings were also reported at the nearby Victoria Golf Course.

Paul Randall, president of Carson Harbor Village Homeowners Association, told the "Long Beach Press-Telegram" that he was chased by one aggressive coyote and was forced to protect himself with a long walking stick he carries.

“We are prisoners in our homes,” Randall said.

So last month, the city hired Animal Pest Management Services Inc. of Chino to track the coyotes and set snares to trap and remove them from the mobile home park. But following an outcry from animal protection groups, an attorney representing the owner of Carson Harbor Village,where most of the coyote complaints originated, quickly refused to grant the city permission to set any traps on the property, claiming the owner was concerned children could get hurt by the snares.

And what was the wise and caring property owner’s alternative to placing traps and removing the troublesome canines? In his infinite wisdom, park owner James Goldstein’s lawyer Richard Close announced the mobile home park would increase its liability insurance to protect itself in case a resident is hurt in a coyote attack.

And how is Carson Harbor Village planning to pay for the increased insurance premiums? Pass the cost along to the residents who are threatened by the aggressive coyotes, of course.

Viva, California!