To: Board of Supervisors
From: Agriculture
Meeting Date: November 7, 2023
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Department Contact: |
Andrew Smith |
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707-234-6830 |
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Item Type: Consent Agenda |
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Time Allocated for Item: N/A |
Agenda Title:
title
Acceptance of Informational Update on the Status of Vertebrate Pest Management Referrals, Outreach, and Education that Include Calls for Services Originating from Agricultural Industry Representatives, Including Plant and Animal Agricultural Practitioners, as Well as the Public and Businesses in Mendocino County
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Recommended Action/Motion:
recommendation
Accept informational update on the status of Vertebrate Pest Management referrals, outreach, and education that include calls for service originating from agricultural industry representatives, including plant and animal agricultural practitioners, as well as the public and businesses in Mendocino County.
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Previous Board/Board Committee Actions:
On August 17, 2021, the Board directed staff in Animal Care Services and the Department of Agriculture to work on next steps after directing that the Wildlife Services Agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) would be terminated.
On January 24, 2023 the Agriculture Department, in collaboration with Animal Care Services, brought an informational update to the Board of Supervisors on the status of wildlife exclusion practices, outreach and education provided by partnering County departments and State agencies and scoping the need for a Wildlife Exclusionary Program. The terminology of the work was shifted from wildlife exclusionary program scoping to Vertebrate Pest Management to align better with Food and Agricultural code programs, which are administered locally for the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).
Summary of Request:
Department of Agriculture and Animal Care Services have been collaborating on understanding the potential need for a County Vertebrate Pest Management and Pest Exclusion program. Staff in Animal Care Services, the Department of Agriculture, and the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) have been maintaining calls for service records related to vertebrate pests around homes, gardens, and ranches. Partnering department staff have been providing education and outreach to industry and public stakeholders and referring calls to state agency staff in the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), licensed agricultural and/or structural pest control companies, as well as animal abatement services for the past nine (9) months. Based on calls for service there is not a documented need for a non-lethal wildlife exclusion program in the County of Mendocino. There is an ongoing need for education and outreach on a seasonal basis for the exclusion and management of vertebrate pests around homes, gardens, and landscapes, which can be undertaken by homeowners or solicited to appropriately licensed companies. There continues to be a need for managing depredation of livestock by larger vertebrate predators and most of these calls for service are no longer fielded by the Department of Agriculture since the contract with USDA Wildlife Services was cancelled.
Alternative Action/Motion:
Provide direction to staff.
Does This Item Support the General Plan? Yes
Strategic Plan Priority Designation: A Safe and Healthy County
Supervisorial District: All
vote requirement: Majority
Supplemental Information Available Online At: N/A
Fiscal Details:
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source of funding: 1100 |
budgeted in current f/y: N/A |
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current f/y cost: N/A |
if no, please describe: |
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annual recurring cost: N/A |
revenue agreement: N/A |
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budget clarification: 2710 |
Agreement/Resolution/Ordinance Approved by County Counsel: N/A
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CEO Liaison: Executive Office |
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CEO Review: Yes |
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CEO Comments:
FOR COB USE ONLY
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Executed By: Atlas Pearson, Senior Deputy Clerk |
Final Status: Approved |
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Date: November 7, 2023 |
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