Wild Animals

Authorities are cautioning residents to beware of animals fleeing burned areas of the Angeles National Forest and moving into neighboring communities. With more than a quarter of the forest burned, animals displaced by the Station fire may find their way into nearby streets and homes as they search for food and comfortable surroundings, officials said. ?If you see a wild animal, be safe and keep your distance and keep your pets away from it until it leaves,? Jonathan Fielding, Los Angeles County?

The Academy of Magical Arts, Inc. at the Magic Castle announces that award-winning actress and Magic Castle member Tippi Hedren (star of Alfred Hitchcock films "The Birds" and "Marnie") and actor Steve Valentine ("Crossing Jordan"), will co-host a benefit and silent auction for The ROAR Foundation, supporting The Shambala Preserve, to be held at the Magic Castle. The evening includes dinner, a silent auction and shows at the Magic Castle. The Magic Castle will be open to the general public for this event.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Don't Poison Wildlife I am writing you in order to bring awareness to an ongoing conflict between homeowners and wildlife in urban neighborhoods. Some of us feel that it is the other way around — humans are encroaching onto the natural habitat where animals such as deer, rabbits, coyotes, possums and other small creatures live. I was greatly disturbed to hear that throughout the foothill areas of La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta and Glendale some homeowners are using poison to eradicate unwanted wildlife, especially coyotes and deer.

What appears to be a dire situation inspired several locals to consider packing weaponry and taking to the trails above La Cañada after Monday night’s City Council meeting, where residents and officials discussed the dastardly deeds of a predator in our midst. The council also was pushed to take a proactive role in public education, as well as in finding a way to rid the community of the wild visitor. Mountain lions and coyotes were at the center of much of the night’s discussion — and one mountain lion in particular, who has preyed on several area pets and terrified dozens of parents and pet owners.

Visitors who look skyward at San Diego's Wild Animal Park are now seeing more than the usual assortment of exotic birds. Up in the sky about six stories above the brown hillside is a new kind of flying species soaring overhead at about 40 mph, swooping to a sudden stop atop a platform the park has built especially for the species' arrival. These creatures might logically be called the Smiling, Laughing Zip Line Riders because invariably that's what they do when they finish their breathtaking two-thirds-of-a-mile flight from a perch high above the hillside.

Four aggressive attacks by coyotes on Alta Canyada area pets within one week, last week, led one La Cañadan to find a way to educate the public and remove some of the danger. “We don’t want to kill the coyotes, just relocate them,” said Debbie Johannes, who recently started the “We love Finney and Friends hotline.” Johannes hopes residents will call the hotline, (818) 790-0476, if a pet is missing in the area, if there are unusual sightings of coyotes in “peculiar areas,” mountain lions or other aggressive predatory animals, or if someone knows of a pet that has been killed or injured by wild animals in the area, within the past five years.

At about 2:15 p.m., last Thursday (July 10) a suspect allegedly attacked a newer black Toyota Camry that was parked in front of a residence in the 1000 block of El Vago Street. The suspect caused damage to both sides and the front of the vehicle. A gardener next door to the residence witnessed the incident and quickly notified the homeowner. ?The gardener was really alarmed; he didn?t speak much English, but he pointed out [the suspect who] was standing within 25 feet of the car, in an aggressive stance,?

Moods bordered on fowl at City Hall Tuesday night as city staff and the City Council tried to lay down the law concerning hen ownership in La Cañada. About a dozen animal owners came out to protest wording of an ordinance that would severely restrict small and large pets and livestock ownership in homes and on properties within the city. The proposed ordinance came about after last year when neighbors complained about noise and odor emanating from about two dozen exotic chickens roaming free in a La Cañada yard.

Visitors who look skyward at San Diego's Wild Animal Park are now seeing more than the usual assortment of exotic birds. Up in the sky about six stories above the brown hillside is a new kind of flying species soaring overhead at about 40 mph, swooping to a sudden stop atop a platform the park has built especially for the species' arrival. These creatures might logically be called the Smiling, Laughing Zip Line Riders because invariably that's what they do when they finish their breathtaking two-thirds-of-a-mile flight from a perch high above the hillside.

Most scripture promotes our careful stewardship of the Earth. And yet, apocalyptic religious traditions welcome signs of the "end times" (environmental degradation, war, oil spills, etc.), considering it the fulfillment of long-awaited prophecy and the beginning of a new age of peace. What's the role of free will in the face of such prophecy? Should we celebrate these "signs" or try to do something to minimize the violence and destruction? If action is called for, how should we rally together to battle our "compassion fatigue" and heal the world's wounds?

Letters to the Editor Brother, can you fill a sandbag? Thank you to the city of LCF for providing the much-needed sand and facility area in the parking lot across the street from City Hall to allow recent fire victims to bag sand to protect their homes. I’d also like to thank the local fire stations, specifically Station 82, for providing free sand bags with written directions. However, yesterday while filling my own four bags, I noticed an elderly couple there with their bags and shovel (you need to bring your own shovel)

Authorities are cautioning residents to beware of animals fleeing burned areas of the Angeles National Forest and moving into neighboring communities. With more than a quarter of the forest burned, animals displaced by the Station fire may find their way into nearby streets and homes as they search for food and comfortable surroundings, officials said. ?If you see a wild animal, be safe and keep your distance and keep your pets away from it until it leaves,? Jonathan Fielding, Los Angeles County?

It’s finally here. Tonight (Thursday) is the season finale of the TV Land series “She’s Got the Look.” La Cañada’s own resident and La Cañada Elementary School teaching assistant Theresa Kalnins made it into the final three contestants. At 9 tonight (Thursday) viewers across the country will cheer for Kalnins and the other two contestants and finally get to see who wins the ultimate prize: $100,000 in cash, a modeling contract with Wilhelmina Models and a photo spread in Self magazine.

What appears to be a dire situation inspired several locals to consider packing weaponry and taking to the trails above La Cañada after Monday night’s City Council meeting, where residents and officials discussed the dastardly deeds of a predator in our midst. The council also was pushed to take a proactive role in public education, as well as in finding a way to rid the community of the wild visitor. Mountain lions and coyotes were at the center of much of the night’s discussion — and one mountain lion in particular, who has preyed on several area pets and terrified dozens of parents and pet owners.

Four aggressive attacks by coyotes on Alta Canyada area pets within one week, last week, led one La Cañadan to find a way to educate the public and remove some of the danger. “We don’t want to kill the coyotes, just relocate them,” said Debbie Johannes, who recently started the “We love Finney and Friends hotline.” Johannes hopes residents will call the hotline, (818) 790-0476, if a pet is missing in the area, if there are unusual sightings of coyotes in “peculiar areas,” mountain lions or other aggressive predatory animals, or if someone knows of a pet that has been killed or injured by wild animals in the area, within the past five years.

At about 2:15 p.m., last Thursday (July 10) a suspect allegedly attacked a newer black Toyota Camry that was parked in front of a residence in the 1000 block of El Vago Street. The suspect caused damage to both sides and the front of the vehicle. A gardener next door to the residence witnessed the incident and quickly notified the homeowner. ?The gardener was really alarmed; he didn?t speak much English, but he pointed out [the suspect who] was standing within 25 feet of the car, in an aggressive stance,?

Moods bordered on fowl at City Hall Tuesday night as city staff and the City Council tried to lay down the law concerning hen ownership in La Cañada. About a dozen animal owners came out to protest wording of an ordinance that would severely restrict small and large pets and livestock ownership in homes and on properties within the city. The proposed ordinance came about after last year when neighbors complained about noise and odor emanating from about two dozen exotic chickens roaming free in a La Cañada yard.