V o l um e 2 , I s s ue 1
Ci t y o f P i n e ll a s Pa r k
Fall 2010
E QUESTRIAN NEWS & N OTES
Pinellas Park
Equestrian Center
Upcoming Events:
C OYOT E S A N D T H E E Q U E S T R I A N
C O M M U N I T Y I N P I N E L L A S PA R K
B
PPPD Mounted Unit
Equestrian Speed Show
January 22, 2011
5:00pm to 9:00pm
Bay Area Horseman’s
Association Show
January 23, 2010
8:00 am—5:00 pm
Free Admission
PPPD Mounted Unit
Equestrian Speed Show
February 26, 2011
5:00pm to 9:00pm
Bay Area Horseman’s
Association Show
February 27, 2010
8:00 am—5:00 pm
Free Admission
PPPD Mounted Unit
Equestrian Speed Show
March 26, 2011
5:00pm to 9:00pm
Bay Area Horseman’s
Association Show
March 27, 2010
8:00 am—5:00 pm
Free Admission
PPPD Mounted Unit
Equestrian Speed Show
April 23, 2011
5:00pm to 9:00pm
Bay Area Horseman’s
Association Show
April 24, 2011
8:00 am—5:00 pm
Free Admission
City of Pinellas Park
Recreation Division
PO Box 1100
Pinellas Park, FL
On Wednesday, November 10,
the City of Pinellas Park hosted
the Forum on Coyotes to allow
community members to hear
directly from area experts the
status of coyote populations in
our area, and to learn more
about effective strategies for
living with these wild neighbors.
The Forum was organized by
the Neighborhood Services
Department after members of
the equestrian community began reporting the disappearance of barn and house cats,
as well as other small domestic
livestock and wildlife. Larger
properties, more green space,
and more animals mean that
equestrian properties are ideal
for attracting a resident or
traveling coyote, although
coyotes may be seen anywhere
in the County. Juveniles are
born in the spring and expelled
from the mother’s territory at
about nine months of age, so
coyotes are particularly in
evidence during the fall as large
juveniles are on the move in
search of new areas.
The Forum featured presentations by Greg Andrews, Operations Manager for Pinellas
County Animal Services;
Breanne Strepina, Wildlife
Biologist with the Florida Fish
and Wildlilfe Conservation
Commission; Charles Carpenter, President of the Florida
Wildlife Control Association;
and Wayne Salicrup, Vice
Y
D
E B R A
R
O S E
President of the Florida Wildlife
Control Association. The panel
noted that coyotes have been
present in Pinellas County
since the 1970s. They have
now extended to nearly every
corner of Florida except for the
lower Keys. And, they are here
to stay.
Coyotes respond to changes in
their environment by regulating
their own populations. Coyote
populations that are under
threat — for example, from
population control measures
— respond by bearing more
litters with larger numbers of
pups to restore their population numbers. As a result, Mr.
Andrews of Pinellas County
Animal Services noted, efforts
to reduce or eliminate coyote
populations have proven ineffective. The most dramatic
example is the campaign
undertaken by the State of
California, which expended $30
million to trap and eliminate
some 500,000 coyotes, to no
avail.
Coyotes are not considered a
threat to humans — there has
only been one reported attack
by a coyote, and that some
decades ago. But small or
weakened animals are an
important part of their diverse
diet, which in urban areas also
includes insects, fruit, pet
food, and household garbage.
The good news is that there are
several measures that property
owners can take to make their
homes unattractive to coyotes
and to protect their household
pets. These tips, and other
resources, are provided on the
following page.
Continued on page 2…………
P age 2
V o l um e 2 , I s s ue 1
LIVING
Meet the Members
Of the
City of Pinellas Park
Equestrian Board
Sharon Goldston, Chair
Kim Rose, Vice Chair
Jodie Andrews
Susan Donaldson
Patricia Fiedler
Denise Kurmay
Patricia McFarlane
Katherina Zach
Meetings held every third
Wednesday of the month
Council Workshop Room,
City Hall, 2nd Floor
7:00 pm
For meeting agendas,
minutes, and notices,
please see the City website
at www.pinellas-park.com.
WITH
COYOTES:
Never feed coyotes!
Never leave unsecured pet
food or trash outside.
Pick up ripe or windfall
fruits and vegetables.
Clear brush and dense
weeds from around homes
and barns. They provide
areas for coyotes to hide.
Fencing modifications may
be possible to provide
additional security for
horses and other domestic
animals. Please consult
the Pinellas Park Zoning
Division on requirements
for your property prior to
modifying fence height,
installing electrified fencing, or adding extensions
that extend outward from
the top of the fence.
Coyotes can also dig under
fences. For internal fenc-
WHAT YOU CAN DO
ing installed within the
property line, a galvanized
wire apron at least 4” to 6”
deep and extending 15” to
20” out from the fence can
provide additional
protection from coyotes.
Keep pets indoors between
dusk and dawn. When not
indoors, keep cats and
dogs on a short, not an
extension, leash.
Provide a pole at least 7’
high, with a platform, for
outdoor cats to escape
from coyotes.
If you see a coyote on your
property, make sure you let
it know it is not welcome.
Wave your arms, make a
loud noise, or throw rocks
in its direction.
Report all coyote sightings
to the Pinellas Park Police
Dept. non-emergency line
at 541-0758.
Learn More! The following
websites are excellent
sources of information on
coyotes and their behavior,
and provide additional information on protecting
your property and pets.
For more information:
www.pinellascounty.org/
animalservices/coyotes
http://www.myfwc.com/
WILDLIFEHABITATS/
SpeciesInfo_Coyote.htm
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/
Do not leave small children
unattended, even in a
backyard.
PINELLAS PARK EQUESTRIAN CENTER
The Pinellas Park Equestrian
Center arena, practice arena,
and practice ring are open to
the public during regular park
hours unless in use for an event
or temporarily closed for maintenance.
Center facilities are available
for booking for organized shows
and events. The rental fee is
$100.00 per day plus tax, with
separate lighting charges for
night shows. Tax exempt
organizations are offered a
reduced daily rate of $50.00.
Proof of liability insurance is
also required for public events.
Portable bleachers are also
available for rental at the arena.
To reserve the Center, please
contact the Pinellas Park
Recreation Division at
(727) 541-0776 or email
[email protected] to
ensure date availability and
request a rental application
packet.
Equestrian Center information
and rental applications are
now also available online from
the Recreation Division page
at www.pinellas-park.com.
RULES TO RIDE BY
When riding in Helen Howarth
Park or on the Pinellas Park
Equestrian Trail, here are some
important rules to ride by:
You know the scoop — pick
up poop!
Courtesy counts! Please be
courteous to other riders,
park users, and neighbors.
For safety’s sake, please
do not smoke on the trail
or adjacent facilities.
Dogs must be on leash at
all times. No dogs please
in the arenas or round ring.
Motorized vehicles are not
permitted on the trail.
Alcoholic beverages are
not permitted in the park.
A permit is required for any
organized event at the
arena or practice ring ,
including private shows,
birthday parties.
The Equestrian Center is
not available for lessons
by private instructors.
To report a maintenance
or safety issue at the
Equestrian Center or in
Helen Howarth Park,
please contact the Parks
Division at 541-0845 or
[email protected].