Mary Cummins Wildlife Rehabilitation Animal Advocates News Los Angeles California: wildlife

Showing posts with label wildlife. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Coyote Pack Residing in Condo Construction Site in West Hollywood by Mary Cummins, Animal Advocates

Today we were at 939 N Spaulding in West Hollywood, California. A pack of coyotes has taken over the condo construction project which has been idle since 2022 or 2024. There are gaps in and under the fencing where coyotes can easily enter the property. People are leaving cat food and water for the coyotes.

Our goal is to talk to the owner to consult them on humane nuisance wildlife control. As I look at the building plans here are my suggestions. It may be too difficult to fence the coyotes out as coyotes can climb eight foot fences. It may be easier to block their entrance to most of the building. I suggest gating the entrance to the subterranean garage. I suggest using plywood to block off the one set of stairs leading from first to second floor. Coyotes will then be limited to only the ground floor. It may be possible to use fencing or plywood to block off the first floor where it's open. I'd also suggest doing a better job with the current perimeter fence so they can't climb over it, through it or under it. We obviously use fencing to keep coyotes in their enclosures. If we can keep them in, we can keep them out. I suggest an angled lip, extension arm on the top of the fencing angled out. I also suggest an angled piece on the bottom of the fencing so they can't crawl under it. They can add extra fencing pieces at the gates so they overlap and there's no space in between. Cost of each project should be considered. Reinforcing the fencing may be cheaper than blocking the building.

I'd really have to look inside the building to come up with a better plan. I'm going off the building plans. After doing that work the coyotes will be long gone from the activity and hopefully not be able to come back. I'd suggest some security trail cameras to see if the plan is successful. There are gate companies and companies that board up vacant buildings that can help. We'd come up with a plan for free but obviously we can't afford to pay for fencing or plywood. We just sent a more detailed plan to the city of WeHo.

We saw an adult coyote resting at the property. We didn't see the three juvenile coyotes which others have seen.

We were interviewed by CBS, NBC and KCAL 9 news. We were mentioned in a news article. https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/west-hollywood-coyotes-condo-complex-romaine-street-spaulding-avenue/ We were in a very short snippet in the news teaser here https://www.nbclosangeles.com/video/news/local/coyotes-take-over-abandoned-construction-site-in-west-hollywood/3922939 Another ABC 7 Los Angeles https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/west-hollywood-requiring-property-owner-042744200.html

One good quote "Mary Cummins with Animal Advocates said coyotes generally do not pose a threat to people.

"No, coyotes don't attack humans. Their main prey is small animals. It's generally California ground squirrels, gophers, chipmunks and bunnies," Cummins said.

Cummins said there are safe ways to encourage the animals to leave the area.

"The best way to get them to move out of this area is to exclude and deter. By exclude, I mean we make it so they can't go under, over, or through the fencing. And to deter is, after we've excluded them from the fencing, we go inside, and we deter them by basically hazing and scaring them out. We leave one exit for them, and we herd them all in that direction, and we get them all out of the building. And then we secure that one last gate," she said.

Wildlife experts said the coyotes are not a danger to humans, but residents are encouraged to keep small pets inside."

Response from the City of West Hollywood. They told the owner to contact a humane nuisance wildlife control officer to make a plan to deal with the situation.
https://www.weho.org/Home/Components/News/News/12218/

Property information main legal address 939 N. Spaulding. APN 5530-024-024. Addresses 939-941, 949-953. It was originally multifamily multibuildings on three lots. It sold for $1,600,000 as a tear down project to build condos. Architect John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects. Other address is 7732 Romaine Street. It has four affordable housing units, i.e. Includes units designated for very-low-, low-, and moderate-income households. There are two levels of subterranean parking.

2018 article about the project https://la.urbanize.city/post/four-story-22-unit-condo-development-planned-west-hollywood

Here are the plans for the building
https://weho.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=1075&meta_id=156744

Property is owned by 939 N Spaulding Ventures LLC, 922 E Green St, Pasadena, California. The corporation is run by Paul Lee service agent, Leo Chan and David Trunzo. Clement Tung is also related to the property. The property is in default of property taxes $50,000 per year and has a mechanic lien. The loan is not in default. It's owned by a private party. Original loan was $2,000,000 in 2020. It is now $16,000,000 and may cover more than one property. Sounds like funding and construction just fell apart. Click to see larger. The last deed filed was from 2020. It was signed by David Anthony Trunzo notarized in China.

The project is called the Spaulding Condos. JFK Architects. It's 22 units on floor stories. It should look like the below photo when finished. The contractor was https://www.dwellingconstruction.com/ who hasn't been involved in many years.

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit Disclaimer: https://animaladvocatesmarycummins.blogspot.com/p/mary-cummins-disclaimer-freedom-of.html

Mary Cummins

Mary Cummins of Cummins Real Estate Services has been in real estate since 1983, over 35 years. She is licensed by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers. Mary Cummins was an agent and broker licensed with the California Department of Real Estate selling residential income, commercial buildings, raw land and homes for Merrill Lynch Realty in Beverly Hills and Westside Properties in Los Angeles before concentrating on appraisals. Mary Cummins currently provides real estate appraisals, expert witness testimony, historical research, legal real estate research for mortgage brokers, banks, lawyers, factors, insurance companies, financial consultants and private individuals. Mary Cummins was born and raised in Southern California. Cummins attended Beverly Hills Good Shepherd Catholic School and Beverly Hills High School. Besides being on the Dean's list, Mary Cummins was a top ten national swimmer and competed on the men's water polo team. Mary Cummins began college at the age of 15 attending the University of Southern California on scholarship, majoring in Psychology/Sociology. http://www.animaladvocates.us http://www.facebook.com/AnimalAdvocatesUSA

Sunday, December 28, 2025

Brigitte Bardot Was a Lifelong Friend to Wildlife 1934-2025 by Animal Advocates Mary Cummins

Brigitte Bardot 1934-2025 was a lifelong friend to wildlife. She used her fame to campaign against inhumane practices such as the commercial seal hunt, whaling, fur trapping, wolf hunting, foie gras, horse meat, animal testing and bullfighting. She stated that wild animals were among the most defenseless victims of the modern economic systems. Her Fondation Brigitte Bardot actively fought against animal cruelty. We're thankful for her life long work helping animals especially wildlife.

Bardot had a complicated legacy which included racism and hate speech. I noticed when she spoke against others it was generally because of their maltreatment of animals and humans. She spoke against Islam and the ritual of Eid al-Adha because of their religious sacrifice of sheep. She spoke against Muslims because some Muslims following Sharia law committed violence and raped women. She spoke against Reunion Islanders because of treatment of animals specifically targeting the Hindu Tamil population's practice of sacrificing goats. She should have only condemned their maltreatment of animals and humans and not attacked or mentioned their religion, race or other attributes. For instance we are against the Jewish ritual of religious animal sacrifice of chickens called Kapparot. It's only practiced by a few Jewish people. Most Jewish people are against it. We support Jewish people and only condemn the cruel Kapparot practice. Bardot didn't always make that distinction. #brigittebardot #AnimalAdvocates #marycummins #wildliferescue

https://www.fondationbrigittebardot.fr/nos-combats/

Mary Cummins

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

RIP Mikayla Raines. Bullying of Animal Rescuers Must Stop by Mary Cummins, Animal Advocates

Wildlife rehabilitator Mikayla Raines of Save a Fox committed suicide June 20, 2025 at the age of 29. Mikayla leaves behind a loving husband, daughter and an animal rescue organization. Her husband stated in a video that other rescuers had been stalking, harassing and attacking her viciously which caused Mikayla to kill herself. Such a sad preventable situation.

Bullying is a common theme in the animal rescue world. I've been stalked by a certain bully and her crew since 2010. I got a restraining order which they violated over 150 times within two weeks. My bully even emailed me telling me I should kill myself saying she was my mother. My bully likes to call me fat, old, ugly, wrinkly, warty piggy nose, bald, toothless...and much, much worse. They like to falsely accuse me of disgusting crimes against children and animals. They post photos of nude morbidly obese women or a roach with my face photoshopped on top. They accuse me of having STDs, AIDs... They even like to turn it around and pretend they are the victim. I can only imagine what Mikayla was going through. I'm sure it was the same evil.

I spoke with the Los Angeles County expert on stalkers at the time. The woman wrote a book on stalking. They told me my stalker was jealous and mentally ill. They told me to get a civil restraining order which didn't help at all. My stalker relished the attention.

Part of the Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation talks about this issue specifically. Warden Joe Baima of the California Department of Fish & Wildlife used to start off each District 5 meeting by reading this section of the code of ethics.

Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilitation, 4th edition, 2012, NWRA & IWRC, Code of Ethics, pg V, Item 6. "A wildlife rehabilitator should respect other rehabilitators and persons in related fields,

sharing skills and knowledge in the spirit of cooperation for the welfare of the animals."

Joe Baima would then tell the rehabbers that he doesn't want to see or hear any complaints against other rehabbers. I was told it all came out of jealousy and envy. Some are jealous another rehabber got in a rarer boutique species. Some are jealous that someone's rescue video is going viral. Some are jealous that another groups gets lots of donations. Some are just jealous over looks, age and weight. There are also some rehabbers who want to be the gate keeper of certain species. One lady wants to be in charge of all bobcats. Another wants to be in charge of all bats. It doesn't make any sense as there are many more animals than all the rehabbers can possibly handle. Killing off a rehabber only makes your workload larger.

Other times one rehabber is upset that they can't rehab skunks in their condo. They decide to try to make it impossible for anyone to rehab skunks by filing bizarre and false reports about skunk rehabbers. All the while they are illegally rehabbing skunks in their condo while their neighbors object.

There need to be better laws and regulations to deal with bullies. Restraining orders don't help. Lawsuits are complex and expensive. People are allowed to harass, defame, file false reports against people as much as they want no matter the laws. Based on what happened to Mikayla it's clearly legal to bully someone to death. While the husband could legally file a lawsuit it'd be pointless. Mikayla is never coming back. Justice is also rarely possible unless you have a lot of money and contacts.

Obituary

https://jmmcbeathfuneralhome.com/news/mikayla-raines

Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit * Disclaimer https://animaladvocatesmarycummins.blogspot.com/p/mary-cummins-disclaimer-freedom-of.html

Mary Cummins

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Mary Cummins Animal Advocates Resume Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae

Cummins is a bilingual Latina who grew up in a wildlife area of Los Angeles, California rescuing baby bunnies, squirrels and even a fawn by the age of six. She continued to rescue all types of animals on her own, with other organizations and for local animal shelters.

Cummins founded Animal Advocates an IRS recognized 501 3c non-profit organization in 2002. Animal Advocates is a registered California Corporation and legal charity with the California Attorney General. Cummins is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator specializing in small mammals including but not limited to coyotes, bobcats, foxes, skunks, raccoons, opossums, squirrels and bats.

Animal Advocates is the only wildlife rehabilitation facility in the city of Los Angeles which is home to over 5,000,000 people spread over 500 square miles. To date (2021) we have rescued and rehabilitated 8,368 wild animals and 1,254 domestic for a grand total of 9,622 animals. We provide wildlife education in English and Spanish in the community and through our work with the local, state and federal government. 2022 was our 20 year anniversary.

Education

• 1982 Beverly Hills High School, Dean's list, Swim team, Water Polo

• 1984 University of Southern California, Dean's list, Swim Team, Marks International Hall, Scholarship

Professional Education

• 1982 Emergency Medical Technician I

• 2001 Wildlife Paramedic I Basic training for wildlife emergency response

• 2003 IWRC Basic rehabilitation skills seminar, two day course, 13 hours

• 2004 Opossum Society, Opossum rehabilitation

• 2004 HSUS Animal Care two day seminar in Reno, Nevada

• 2005 Rio Hondo Police Academy PAC 43.76 PC 832 Arrest - Modules 1 & III

• 2005 Rio Hondo Police Academy PAC 43.77 PC 832 Firearms - Module II

• 2005 Animal Law Enforcement Academy, San Diego Humane Society and SPCA. 80 hours of approved credit by CVMA, sponsored by the State Humane Association of California to become a Humane Officer

• 2005 American Humane Association, Euthanasia by Injection Certificate, Pasadena Shelter

• 2005 American Humane Association - TV & Film, “No animals were harmed” one week training program. Employed in 2005.

• 2006 Pasadena Police Department Certificate of training Tazer X26

• 2005 LA Animal Services, Mitigating animal related injuries in the shelter environment

• 2005 LA Animal Services, Reptile care and handling

• 2005 LA Animal Services, Horse care and handling

• 2005 LA Animal Services, Wildlife care and handling

• 2010 Desert Studies Center, Southwestern bats, research techniques, Dr. Patricia Brown-Berry, 42 years of experience with bats

• 2011 Humane Society University, Animal First Aid for Disaster Responders, 8 hours live

• 2017 Animal Legal Defense Fund's Animal Law Summer School - Ag-Gag, Professor Alan Chen, University of Denver Sturm College of Law

• 2017 Animal Legal Defense Fund's Animal Law Summer School - Captive Wildlife, Matthew Liebman, Director of Litigation for the Animal Legal Defense Fund

• 2018 Big Cats in the City: Ecology, Behavior and Conservation of Mountain Lions around Los Angeles. Seth Riley.

• 2018 Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Animal Law School “Case Study: Elephants at the LA Zoo" presented by lawyer David Casselman.

• 2018 Wild Futures “Living with Mountain Lions in the Bay Area & Greater California.”

• 2019 Animal Legal Defense Fund’s “The Link between Violence against Humans and Animals.”

• 2020 IWRC, Coffee & Tea discussion on Cultivating anti-racism in wildlife rehabilitation

• 2021 New York City AAZK, Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, and the Zoological Field

• 2021 Beneath the Surface: Examining Triggers of Harmful Algal Blooms, Marine Mammal Care

• 2021 Prairie Dogs in Peril Zoom, James Trever of Prairie Dog Pals

• 2022 Groundbreaking of Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing

• 2022 Post Human Infrastructure, Lauren Bon, Metabolic Studios

• 2022 Wildlife 2 Watts Educational Event

• 2022 Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing Open House

• 2023 Latino Conservation Week programs

• 2023 Celebration of Life Event P22

• 2023 Natural History Museum P22 Museum Educational Visit

• 2023 IWRC Pinniped Control-Meeting Community Needs in a Time of Crisis

• 2023 Cougar Conservancy National Wildlife Federation Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing Tour

• 2024 IWRC Wildlife Rehabilitation & Conservation in Rwanda

• 2024 IWRC Connections U Networking in Latin America, Spanish/English

• 2024 Animal Tracks Wildlife Sanctuary Educational Visit

• 2024 Recognizing and Understanding Bias for the Animal Welfare Professional

• 2024 IWRC International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council Coffee & Tea: A big problem with little animals: how insect declines may affect wildlife

Professional licenses, permits past and present

• 2001 Los Angeles City Gun Permit

• 2003 Los Angeles City Wildlife Permit

• 2003 USDA Class C Exhibitor Permit for Sanctuary animals

• 2004 CA Department of Fish and Wildlife trapping permit

• 2004 CA Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Rehabilitation permit, Educational Animals and later exhibit permit

Awards and acknowledgments

• 2003 EARS, Certificate of appreciation for assisting in the wildfires

• 2003 City of Los Angeles, Certificate of appreciation

• 2009 LA Animal Services, Certificate of appreciation

• 2010 Classy, Nonprofit Award

• 2013 Great Nonprofits, Top-Rated Nonprofit Award 3

• 2013 Los Angeles Business Journal, Corporate Citizen and Nonprofit

Selected media, publications, articles

• 2002 "What to do when you find a baby squirrel"

• 2002 "What to do when you find an injured squirrel"

• 2003 "How to reunite squirrels babies with their mothers"

• 2003 "How to trim trees with wildlife in mind"

• 2003 "How to properly care for un-releasable squirrels"

• 2003 "How to build proper caging for wildlife"

• 2003 Cat Fancy Magazine, "Mama Mia"

• 2003 "How to humanely deal with coyotes"

• 2004 "Rehabilitation of tree squirrels" manual.

• 2004 "Rehabilitation of ground squirrels" manual.

• 2004 "Rehabilitation of skunks" manual.

• 2004 "Treatment of Malocclusion in Squirrels," Co-author Dr. Bill Ridgeway

• 2004 "How to trim rodent teeth"

• 2004 "How to make pet squirrels wild again"

• 2004 "How to set up a wildlife referral system in animal shelters"

• 2005 IWRC, "Journal of Wildlife Rehabilitation," "Raising baby tree squirrels from weaning to release"

• 2000-2024 Over 500 wildlife, animal articles written for blogs, newspapers, online media and others Selected media

• 2003 Animal Planet "Beverly Hills Vet, Squirrel Rehabilitation"

• 2003 CADFG "Scrawl of the Wild"

• 2003 LA Times "Rodent poisoning project angers animal activists"

• 2004 Cable television show "Wildlife Rescue," six episodes, Doggy TV

• 2004 Gardena Valley News "Helping furry friends survive urban jungle"

• 2004 KROQ radio interview with Scott Mason

• 2005 Discovery Channel "The Undetectables, Squirrel Care"

• 2005 LA Weekly "A Billionaire's Bark"

• 2005 KROQ radio interview with Scott Mason

• 2005 Thousand Oaks Acorn “Public outcry over slain tiger loud—but not universal”

• 2005 LA Times "Urban remedies: Dealing with new arrivals"

• 2005 Thousand Oaks Acorn "Public outcry over slain tiger loud-but not universal"

• 2005 LA City Beat "Welcome to the jungle"

• 2006 Daily News "Stuckey stays on as $50,000 City consultant"

• 2006 Book "Squirrels: The Animal Answer Guide"

• 2006 Daily News "County relaxes restrictions on llamas, animal rehab"

• 2006 Daily News "Council hears Stuckey critics"

• 2006 LA Times "Fired City Official's appeal in limbo"

• 2007 LA Times "Opossums: your garden's evening clean-up crew"

• 2009 LA Times "Your morning adorable, baby skunks and the handstand dance"

• 2010 Martha Stewart "A gopher named Charlie"

• 2010 Martha Stewart "A second chance for Charlie"

• 2010 LA Times "Your morning adorable: rescued rabbit enjoys a meal"

• 2010 LA Times "Your morning adorable: rub a dub dub, raccoons in a tub"

• 2010 Top YouTube pets video channel in March

• 2011 Ventura County Star “City says bats remain at Moorpark home”

• 2011 CBS Los Angeles “Moorpark Says Homeowners Not Doing Enough To Fight Bats”

• 2011 NBC “WeHo one step closer to fur ban”

• 2012 Santa Monica Patch “Wild Animal in Town? Call on Us, Vet Says”

• 2012 Santa Monica Daily Press “Groups want policy change after mountain lion death”

• 2012 ABC “IDA Rally held in Santa Monica in protest of fatal shooting of mountain lion”

• 2012 NBC “Animal-Rights Group Protests Santa Monica Mountain Lion Shooting”

• 2012 Member of Santa Monica City after incident report in regard to mountain lion shooting

Social Media

• Over 78,000 Facebook fans

• Over 8,000 YouTube subscribers

• Over 12,000,000 YouTube video views

• Over 99,000 YouTube watch hours

• Approved Member Facebook/Meta Nonprofit Growth Program

Experience

• 2001- Present Wildlife rehabilitation. Rescued over 8,000 wild animals with a release rate over 90%

• 2001- Present Wildlife education, presentations to Oasis, Crossroads school, LA Animal Services, Best Friends super adoption, Temple Beth El private school and many others

• 2001- 2006 LA Animal Services, animal shelter volunteer

• 2003 Dept of Fish & Wildlife cleanup of Tiger Rescue, Chuck Traisi, volunteer

• 2003 City of Buena Ventura no-feed plan for wildlife

• 2004 New wildlife policy approved in Los Angeles City

• 2005 American Humane Association - TV & Film, “No animals were harmed” team

• 2006 Amendment to LA County zoning which allows wildlife rehabilitation

• 2006 Redid the LA Animal Services website, added "Adopt a Pet" feature

• 2006 Birth control program for squirrels in Santa Monica

• 2006 Assistant to Director of Found Animals Foundation

• 2010 HSUS NDART team cockfight raid Nipomo, CA

• 2011 HSUS NDART team 150 dog rescue Lucerne Valley, CA

• 2012 City of Santa Monica Mountain Lion Task Force with IDA

• 2013 Expert Opossum Witness for PETA for opossum lawsuit

• 2013 Expert Animal Cruelty Presentation for Animal Defense League Animal Law School

• 2013 Presentation for California Attorney General “We Love Wildlife!” Campaign

• 2020 A Critical Evaluation of Legal and Illegal Killing of Native Predators, Dr. Adrian Treves

• 2024 Bat Roost Count Natural History Museum of Los Angeles

• 2024 International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council IWRC Connections and Networking in Latin America and the Caribbean

• 2024 72nd Annual Wildlife Disease Association conference by WDA Australia

• 2025 Howliday Clinic for Pets Experiencing Homelessness with K9 Connection, Pets Laneding, Street Dog Coalition

• 2025 Rescued and Sheltered Animals Displaced by Los Angeles Fires

• 2025 Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve

• 2025 Blessing of the Animals Los Angeles

Committees/Task forces

• 2004 LA Animal Services Spanish language Committee, Spay and Neuter Committee, Wildlife Committee, Adopt-a-thon Committee, New Hope Partner

• 2005 LA City, Councilman Zine Coyote Task Force

• 2005 Approved by Mayor to be a commissioner for LA Animal Services

• 2006 LA City Proposition F Committee

• 2008 Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) National Disaster Animal Response Team (NDART)
• 2012 Santa Monica Police, Animal Control, Fish & Wildlife After Mountain Lion Killing Incident Task Force

Professional memberships

• California Council for Wildlife Rehabilitators

• National Wildlife Rehabilitation Association

• International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AnimalAdvocatesUSA

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/animal-advocates

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@MaryCummins

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/animaladvocatesusa/

Blog https://animaladvocatesmarycummins.blogspot.com/

#marycummins #animaladvocates #curriculumvitae #resume #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #wildliferescue #squirrels #skunks #opossums #raccoons #bats #bobcats #coyotes #gophers #chipmunks #losangeles #california #animaladvocatesus

Mary Cummins

Saturday, May 17, 2025

California Ground Squirrels in Santa Monica by Mary Cummins Animal Advocates

Every year the California ground squirrels at Ocean Park on Ocean Park Blvd at Broadway in Santa Monica give birth to a litter of pups. By mid May the babies are outside of the burrow hole. By June the city starts killing them because they feel there are "too many." The issue is the city's fear of bubonic plague affecting tourism. The plague is carried by the fleas on some ground squirrels generally at higher elevation. FTR there has never been bubonic plague at this park. The city should be trapping and monitoring the squirrel fleas for the plague if that is really their concern.

Years ago in 2006 we offered to help humanely reduce the population and treat the ground squirrels and park for fleas. City said yes. We were successful reducing the population in 90% of the park but not right at Broadway. The problem is they sell food there which the tourists feed to the animals. This causes the population to explode. They will have more babies and more babies will survive to adulthood. There are no feed signs but people ignore them or destroy them. We lost all our of signs in just the first week. These were thick metal signs tightly screwed to posts. The homeless and locals also feed the ground squirrels. Even if people didn't feed them, there are plants and grass for them to eat. Before the food vendors they used to feed the homeless there who fed the squirrels. The squirrels have probably been there thousands of years.

We also tried to treat the park for fleas. The city and groundskeeper would only allow us to use an herbal spray which was almost as effective as salad dressing. They wouldn't allow us to set up hidden tubes with flea meds to treat the squirrels directly either for same reason. Their excuse was they didn't want anything that could be toxic to pets or humans. Obviously it would not have been toxic to ground squirrels, pets or humans. We use regular dog, cat flea meds on squirrels. They are proven safe.

We were using humane traps to trap, examine the squirrels and test the fleas of the ground squirrels. Homeless people destroyed our traps even though they were well hidden in the cactus. I was almost attacked a few times trying to get the homeless to stop feeding them. Some homeless are mentally ill or on substances which make them unpredictable. One tried to throw me off the bluff. Needless to say we didn't work with the city again because our hands were tied. We couldn't be effective without using our proven tools.

I wrote this article just so current people understand the situation. The city will either poison or gas them. Once they used humane traps to trap them. Then they were more humanely gassed and bodies fed to wildlife. We weren't involved in that program. If they really wanted to get rid of the ground squirrels there, they'd have to cement off the area. Ground squirrels won't stray more than 75 feet from their dirt burrow hole. They may have to cement off the area turning it into a huge deck due to erosion eventually.

The ground squirrels do not cause the erosion of the palisades bluffs. They are attracted to that type of softer soil for their burrows. The palisades have been eroding for millions of years. It happens all over the world even where they have no ground squirrels.

Some cute videos from today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeXti_a9-Ag

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D6IrMvxe3Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfpx8yK4qnU

Mary Cummins

Monday, April 28, 2025

Opossum Rescue in Beverly Hills, California by Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates

We were called to a 10,000 sf home in Beverly Hills, California with a full lower below ground level. An opossum had fallen into a basement window well and couldn't get out. A kind man called us and we got the opossum out. We instantly released within three miles of where found because opossums was healthy and large enough to be on its own. #opossum #possum #losangeles #california #marycummins @mary_cummins #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #wildliferescue #wildlife #beverlyhills #rescue #animalrescue #animaladvocates

Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins

Saturday, April 12, 2025

New Executive Order Threatens Wildlife, Marine Mammals, Environment by Mary Cummins Animal Advocates

There is a new April 9 Executive Order regarding U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which affects wildlife and the environment. They want to unwind Federal Acts if they restrict energy production. These Acts protect wildlife and the environment. They are the migratory bird treaty act, marine mammal protection act, endangered species act... Without these Federal Acts there are NO protections for wildlife, marine mammals or the environment. They'll be able to drill for oil in the ocean even if millions of marine mammals and birds die. They can mine for lithium even if thousands of bald eagles will be killed. We must act now! We'll keep you posted on what you can do to protect wildlife.

Here is the Executive Order

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/zero-based-regulatory-budgeting-to-unleash-american-energy

ZERO-BASED REGULATORY BUDGETING TO UNLEASH AMERICAN ENERGY

This order directs certain agencies to incorporate a sunset provision into their regulations governing energy production to the extent permitted by law.

(i) For the FWS, this order applies to all regulations issued pursuant to the following statutes and any amendments thereto:

(i) the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act;

(ii) the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918;

(iii) the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934;

(iv) the Anadromous Fish Conservation Act of 1965;

(v) the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972;

(vi) the Endangered Species Act of 1973;

(vii) the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976; and

(viii) the Coastal Barrier Resources Act of 1982.

#usfishandwildlifeservice #marycummins #AnimalAdvocates #wildlife #migratorybirds #marinemammals #endangeredspecies

Mary Cummins

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Anticoagulant Poison in Oceans, Lakes by Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates

mary cummins, animal advocates, anticoagulant bait, rat poison, poison, anticoagulant, los angeles, california, wildlife, death, brodifacoum, fish, water, lake, ocean, sea

A new study came out showing anticoagulant poison in trout, Brodifacoum causes coagulopathy, hemorrhages, and mortality in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) at environmentally relevant hepatic residue concentrations.

When I was accidentally poisoned by anticoagulant bait along San Buenaventura beach in 2003 it also went into the water. The pest control operator admitted to free scattering the poison in the tidal areas in the rocks to kill ground squirrels. Within a week I found dead fish and a dead pelican on the beach. I sent the pelican to the lab. It had evidence of internal bleeding. I also found many, many dead birds on the beach and beach parking lot besides a dead cat. Sent the birds to the lab. They had four different types of anticoagulant bait in them. The ecoli level was so high in the water right there that they closed the beach for two weeks. Poison gets into the water directly and indirectly.

Study Highlights

•Brodifacoum doses ≥ 75 µg/kg bw disrupt blood coagulation of rainbow trout.
•Brodifacoum doses between 100 and 200 µg/kg bw cause mortality in rainbow trout.
•Test duration is a key factor assessing the effects of brodifacoum on fish.

•The lowest mean hepatic residue associated with effects in trout is 122.6 ng/g.
•Brodifacoum causes effects at environmentally relevant hepatic concentrations.

Abstract

Widely used second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides like brodifacoum are classified as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. Widespread exposure of terrestrial and avian non-target species is well-known and recently hepatic anticoagulant rodenticide residues have been detected in wild fish. However, no sufficient data exist to interpret the effects of these findings on fish health. In order to assess the potential impact of rodenticide residues on fish, we exposed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to brodifacoum-spiked feed. In a first experiment, individually kept trout (body weight ca. 200 g) were exposed to a single dose of brodifacoum and observed for 15 days. In a second experiment, fish (body weight ca. 330 g) were kept in groups and fed every 7 or 8 days with brodifacoum-spiked feed for up to 60 days. Sampling of trout every 15 days over the 60 days period allowed monitoring of brodifacoum concentrations in serum, liver, and muscle tissue, as well as occurring effects over the course of the experiment. In both experiments, brodifacoum doses of ≥ 75 µg/kg body weight caused prolonged or non-measurable blood coagulation times. Disturbed hemostasis led to hemorrhages and anemia with significantly decreased albumin levels. In the 60 days-experiment, brodifacoum doses ≥ 100 µg/kg body weight caused additionally discoloration, apathy, and anorexia, resulting in reduced weight gain, and ultimately mortality. The delay until the onset of overt symptoms (14–17 days) highlights the importance of test duration while investigating effects of anticoagulant rodenticides in fish. The lowest hepatic brodifacoum concentration associated with effects in trout was on average 122.6 ng/g liver wet weight, which is in the range of previously reported brodifacoum residues in wild fish. These findings illustrate the risks associated with the use of anticoagulant rodenticides for freshwater fish and reinforce the need to stipulate all available and appropriate risk mitigation measures to prevent emissions at source.

Link to paper

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324017056

Mary Cummins

Mary Cummins Animal Advocates Los Angeles California Wildlife Rehabilitation Real Estate

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