FOR SALE – 2020 Class C Sunseeker Motorhome Ford450 x 10. Newly factory engine 0 miles, 3 yr. Warranty engine MH in excellent condition. 1 yr. on new A/C unit. $45,000. Call 406-782-7879. (12/19)

Civic Pride Volunteers selected Amber Clendening’s home at 734 A Street as this year’s Christmas “Yard of the Month” award winner. She received a gift card from Otto & Sons Nursery. Photo credit Linda Nunes.
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By Linda Nunes

Civic Pride Volunteers have chosen Amber Clendening’s holiday decorated yard at 734 A Street to receive the Christmas “Yard of the Month” award.

Amber has lived in Fillmore for most of her life, and on A Street for the last 6-plus years. She said last year was the first time she decorated for Christmas in a long time. She happened to be shopping in Oxnard and saw the meteor roof lights which her grandson really liked and wanted. And, of course, she had to purchase some other decorations to go with them.
This year she added more decorations and will continue adding each year. She does the decorating and her mother helps by holding the ladder, an important task!

Amber was very pleased to receive the Otto & Sons Nursery gift card! She helps a friend with her rose garden and has gone to the nursery to pick roses.

There were so many nicely decorated homes. Here are some “honorable mentions” for your tour: 1026 Arrasmith, 423 Robin, 140 Cherrywood, 758 Galvin, 251 Edgewood & 188 Edgewood, 174 Coronado, 30 Coronado, 44 Cordova, & the Traditions neighborhood off Goodenough Road.

Civic Pride Volunteers appreciate Otto & Sons Nursery for their generous support of this project which has stimulated neighborhoods to improve their yards and to get involved in the fun of holiday decorating.

By Jan Lee

Why are we talking about the Fillmore Flower Show in winter? The show isn’t until April 26 and 27, 2025!

However, one of the most popular categories is roses. Roses need to be pruned in January to have beautiful blooms in the spring. Otto and Sons Nursery in Fillmore offers Rose Care Classes: January 4, 10am -12; Jan 11, 10-12; January 18, 10-12; and January 25, 1-3pm. Sign up early, the classes fill up.

The theme this year is “Fillmore Spirit in Bloom”. It will be held at the Active Adult Center on Santa Clara Street in Fillmore. As usual, there will be live music, a plant sale and refreshment cafe.

As you mark important dates on your new 2025 calendar, be sure to write in the Fillmore Flower Show in April. Nourish those plants, arrange those dish gardens and plant some seeds. We’ll see you in April at the Fillmore Flower Show!

Pictured (l-r) are Dave Andersen, Tyson Wise, Mike Giering and Fillmore Rotary President Anna Reilley. Photo credit Martha Richardson.
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The Fillmore Rotary program presented last week was by Water for Good (formerly Lifewater), presented by Tyson Wise and Mike Giering. The two groups merged to serve more people and become an even better organization. They build water wells with the promise of reliable water. In some countries the girls cannot go to school because they are the ones who have to walk miles to collect water for the family. With the new wells the girls can go to school also. Water for Good also teaches families about sanitation and hygiene practices which establishes healthy homes built on dignity, respect, and community commitment. The countries they work in are Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Cambodia and Central Africa. Water for Good works with the communities for a period of 3-5 years to ensure all these practices are established.

The holiday season can be dangerous for people on the roads. In December 2022 alone, 1,062 people were killed in the U.S. in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind the public of the dangers of driving impaired and to celebrate the holiday season responsibly by not driving under the influence.

From December 11 through New Year’s Day, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office along with its contact cities will have additional officers on patrol looking for drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The high-visibility enforcement effort is part of a national campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, with the goal of stopping suspected impaired drivers who put others at risk.

“During the holiday season, we see families and loved ones coming together to celebrate, and our goal is to make sure everyone gets home safely,” said Deputy Marco Garibay. “Impaired driving isn’t just dangerous; it’s illegal. Let’s make this a joyful and safe holiday season for everyone on the road. We urge people to act responsibly and plan a sober ride home.”
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office encourages everyone to stay in for the night or have a “go safely” game plan by scheduling a ride or designating a sober driver if you plan to consume alcohol. Please use the many ride services available in Ventura County.

Impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, cannabis products and other drugs may also cause impairment. If you plan on drinking or taking medications with a driving warning label, let someone who is sober drive. If you see someone who appears to be driving while impaired, call 9-1-1.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Prepared by: Sergeant Jason Christmann
News Release Date: December 17, 2024
Media Follow-Up Contact: Sergeant Jason Christmann Jason.christmann@ventura.org
Approved by: Captain Jason Hendren

News release: For immediate release, Dec. 4, 2024

In observance of the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays, employees of Santa Clara Valley Disposal will be taking the day off on Wednesday, Dec. 25, and Wednesday, Jan. 1. As a result, Harrison will collect trash, recycling and yard/organics waste one day later than the usual Friday pickup in Fillmore during those weeks. The regular schedule will resume the following weeks.

As an extra holiday service this year, Santa Clara Valley Disposal customers may put out twice the usual amount of residential trash free of charge for two weeks after Christmas: from Thursday, Dec. 26, through Friday, Jan. 10. On your pickup day, you may place bags of extra trash alongside your waste cart at the curb. Please make sure to place the extra trash in bags. You can also put out extra recyclables next to your blue cart, but please flatten all boxes.

As another special holiday feature, Santa Clara Valley Disposal makes it easy for customers to recycle their Christmas trees into mulch. Just remove everything from the tree: ornaments, hooks, lights, tinsel, bows and tree stands, then cut the tree into sections no more than 4 feet long and place them in your yard/organics waste cart on your pickup day. Or, place the whole Christmas tree at the curb on collection day. Flocked trees are also accepted for recycling.

Remember that residential customers can place all three carts curbside every week, as Santa Clara Valley Disposal collects all waste weekly – including food waste, which is recyclable. All food waste should be placed in closed paper or plastic bags and the bags should be tossed in the organics waste cart. Even if you only have food waste bags and no yard waste, you can still put the food waste bags in your organics waste cart and take it to the curb every week for pickup.

Harrison Industries serves the cities and surrounding unincorporated areas of Ventura, Ojai and Camarillo as well as the unincorporated areas of La Conchita, Lake Sherwood, Lynn Ranch, Newbury Park, Ojai Valley (Ventura River Valley), Oxnard Plain, Piru, Point Mugu, Rancho Matilija, Rincon, Santa Paula, Santa Rosa Valley, Somis, Upper Ojai, Yerba Buena and the Channel Islands Beach Community Services District, and the city of Carpinteria as E.J. Harrison & Sons; and Fillmore as Santa Clara Valley Disposal.

For more information, visit www.ejharrison.com.

This year’s Annual Piru Christmas Parade & Festival will take place Saturday, December 14, 2024, at 12pm and will begin at Piru Elementary School and route through Center Street. Immediately following the parade will the be the festival at the Train Depot Park with food, live music, performances, and more for all to enjoy. If you have any questions, call 805-814-6140 or email piruneighborhoodcouncilinc@yahoo.com.

Pictured (l-r) are Dave Andersen, speaker Steve Sharp and Fillmore Rotary President Anna Reilley. Photo credit Martha Richardson.
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One of Rotary’s International projects is Three Angels Haiti (TAH). The speaker last week was Steve Sharp who has been involved with TAH since it was founded in 2003. They have a school for children K-9th, Angels Christian Academy, an orphanage, library with media center, medical and dental care, a garden to grow food and employ 56 Haitians. They have 24-hour guards and security cameras because of the situation in the country. Rotary has supported them for many years.

(Ventura) – Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Michelle Ascencion announced today the official certification of the November 5, 2024 Presidential General Election. A total of 394,197 ballots were cast in the general election; with 84.17% of the voters utilizing their vote-by-mail ballot and 15.83% voting in person. Ventura County had a 76.25% overall voter turnout for this election.

The November 2024 General Election marks Ventura County’s fourth election conducted under the Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) election model. It also marks a significant increase in the number of voters taking advantage of the expanded voting opportunities provided under the VCA.

A hallmark of the VCA is the convenience of early voting in vote centers. The Elections Division opened for in-person voting 29 days before Election Day to coincide with the distribution of vote-by-mail ballots. Under the VCA model, ten additional vote centers opened countywide on October 26 for 10 days of early voting and 41 more opened on November 2. Ventura County residents were able to utilize any vote center location on any day to vote, update their registration, or receive other voter assistance.

“In our first three VCA elections, vote center traffic was always very slow for the first week,” Registrar Ascencion said. “That was definitely not the case for this election. On October 26, the first day we opened, nearly 1,400 people came to vote in person, quite a change from the norm.”

The momentum continued with increased numbers of voters taking advantage of in-person early voting throughout the County. Election Day also saw record numbers at the vote centers.

“We did see a last-minute Election Day surge that broke the record from the 2022 General Election by more than 12,000 voters. This led to some vote centers experiencing long lines but for the most part our voters were patient and understanding about the process, which makes it a much more positive experience for everyone,” Ascencion said. “Our election workers did an outstanding job assisting every voter.”

Although the in-person voting rate increased in this election, the majority of voters continue to prefer the convenience of utilizing their vote by mail ballot, with more mail ballots being returned via official ballot drop box than postal mail by a two-to-one ratio. Completed mail ballots can also be dropped off at any vote center or delivered to the Elections Office at the Government Center.

“Whatever method people used to vote, we thank the community for participating and for its support through this process. We especially appreciate every one of the hundreds of short-term election workers who helped us conduct the election; we couldn’t do it without them,” said Ascencion.

To view the certified final results visit the County Elections website at VenturaVote.org.

***

The Ventura County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters is committed to “Preserving history and protecting democracy for the people of Ventura County, past, present, and future.” More information about the agency’s services is available 24/7 at www.VCClerkRecorder.org.

Board of Directors Meeting, Thursday, December 12, 2024, 4:00 p.m., City of Fillmore City Hall, Council Chambers 250 Central Avenue, Fillmore, CA 93015.
To participate in the Board of Directors meeting via Zoom, please access: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87543140129?pwd=z4MVH4nRVzSIKAHn0irdmahHbr6qyj... Meeting ID: 875 4314 0129 Passcode: Special
To hear just the audio portion of the meeting, phone into: Toll-free number: 877 853 5247 Meeting ID: 875 4314 0129
AGENDA
1. CALL TO ORDER
1A Pledge of Allegiance
1B Directors Roll Call 1C Public Comments
Fillmore and Piru Basins Groundwater Sustainability Agency (Agency) will accept public comment concerning agenda items at the time the item is considered and on any non-agenda item within the jurisdiction of the Board during the agendized Public Comment period. No action will be taken by the Board on any non-agenda item. In accordance with Government Code § 54954.3(b)(1), public comment will be limited to three (3) minutes per speaker per issue.
1D Approval of Agenda
Motion
2. EXECUTIVE (CLO-SED) SESSION
2A Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2), one case.
3. UPDATES
3A Director Ann-ouncements/Board Communications:
Oral Reports from the Board.
Fillmore Pumpers Association Stakeholder Director Update Piru Pumpers Association Stakeholder Director Update Environmental Stakeholder Director Update
City of Fillmore Member Director Update
United Water Con-servation District Member Director Update County of Ventura Member Director Update
3B Executive Director Update Information Item
The Executive Dir-ector will provide an informational update on Agency activities since the previous Board of Directors meeting of August 15, 2024.
3C Legal Counsel Update Information Item
Legal Counsel will provide an informational update on Agency’s legal issues and concerns since the previous Board of Directors meeting of August 15, 2024.
3D GSP Consultant Update Information Item
Representatives from Daniel B Stephens & Associates will provide an informational update on the Agency’s groundwater sustainability planning activities since the previous Board of Directors meeting of August 15, 2024.
4. CONSENT CAL-ENDAR
All matters listed under the Consent Calendar are considered routine by the Board and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Board member pulls an item from the Calendar. Pulled items will be discussed and acted on separately by the Board. Members of the public who want to comment on a Consent Calendar item should do so under Public Comments. (ROLL CALL VOTE REQUIRED)
4A Approval of Minutes
The Board will consider approving the Minutes from the Board of Directors meeting of November 7, 2024, Special Board meeting.
4B Approval of Warrants
The Board will consider approving payment of outstanding vendor invoices:
UWCD - $31,043.12
Stillwater Sciences - $18,790.59
Insure Cal - $ 2,487.42
Aleshire & Wynder LLP - $ 2,058.90
DBS&A - $ 1,400.00
4C Monthly Financial Report
The Board will receive the monthly financial report for the Agency.
4D Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Financial Report
The Board will receive the yearly financial report for 2023-2024.
5. MOTION ITEMS
5A Cienega Springs Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Drought Refuge Pilot Project
Motion
The Board will receive a presentation from DBS&A on the Cienega Springs Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Drought Refuge Pilot Project progress and provide comments and direction.
5B Meetings Schedule for Calendar Year 2025
Motion
The Board will consider approving the meeting schedule for Calendar Year 2025.
5C Investment Policy
Motion
The Board will receive a presentation from staff on an Investment Policy and provide comments and direction.
6. FUTURE TOPICS FOR BOARD DISCUSSION
7. ADJOURNMENT
The Board will adjourn to the next Board Meeting on Thursday, January 16, 2024,
or call of the Chair.
Materials, which are non-exempt public records and are provided to the Board of Directors to be used in consideration of the above agenda items, including any documents provided subsequent to the publishing of this agenda, are available for inspection at UWCD’s offices at 1701
N. Lombard Street in Oxnard during normal business hours.

The Americans with Disabilities Act provides that no qualified individual with a disability shall be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, the District’s services, programs or activities because of any disability. If you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, or if you require agenda materials in an alternative format, please contact the UWCD Office at (805) 525-4431 or the City of Fillmore at (805) 524- 1500. Notification of at least 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the District to make appropriate arrangements.

Approved: Board Chair Kelly Long

Posted: (date) December 9, 2024 At: https://www.FPBGSA.org (time) 3:30 p.m. (attest) Eva Ibarra
Posted: (date) December 9, 2024 At: https://www.facebook.com/FPBGSA (time) 3:35 p.m. (attest) Eva Ibarra
Posted: (date) December 9, 2024 At: UWCD, 1701 N. Lombard Street, Oxnard (time) 3:40 p.m. (attest) Eva Ibarra
Posted: (date) December 9, 2024 (time) 3:45 p.m. (attest) Eva Ibarra At: Fillmore City Hall, 250 Central Avenue, Fillmore, CA

News release: For immediate release, Dec. 4, 2024

In observance of the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays, employees of Santa Clara Valley Disposal will be taking the day off on Wednesday, Dec. 25, and Wednesday, Jan. 1. As a result, Harrison will collect trash, recycling and yard/organics waste one day later than the usual Friday pickup in Fillmore during those weeks. The regular schedule will resume the following weeks.

As an extra holiday service this year, Santa Clara Valley Disposal customers may put out twice the usual amount of residential trash free of charge for two weeks after Christmas: from Thursday, Dec. 26, through Friday, Jan. 10. On your pickup day, you may place bags of extra trash alongside your waste cart at the curb. Please make sure to place the extra trash in bags. You can also put out extra recyclables next to your blue cart, but please flatten all boxes.

As another special holiday feature, Santa Clara Valley Disposal makes it easy for customers to recycle their Christmas trees into mulch. Just remove everything from the tree: ornaments, hooks, lights, tinsel, bows and tree stands, then cut the tree into sections no more than 4 feet long and place them in your yard/organics waste cart on your pickup day. Or, place the whole Christmas tree at the curb on collection day. Flocked trees are also accepted for recycling.

Remember that residential customers can place all three carts curbside every week, as Santa Clara Valley Disposal collects all waste weekly – including food waste, which is recyclable. All food waste should be placed in closed paper or plastic bags and the bags should be tossed in the organics waste cart. Even if you only have food waste bags and no yard waste, you can still put the food waste bags in your organics waste cart and take it to the curb every week for pickup.

Harrison Industries serves the cities and surrounding unincorporated areas of Ventura, Ojai and Camarillo as well as the unincorporated areas of La Conchita, Lake Sherwood, Lynn Ranch, Newbury Park, Ojai Valley (Ventura River Valley), Oxnard Plain, Piru, Point Mugu, Rancho Matilija, Rincon, Santa Paula, Santa Rosa Valley, Somis, Upper Ojai, Yerba Buena and the Channel Islands Beach Community Services District, and the city of Carpinteria as E.J. Harrison & Sons; and Fillmore as Santa Clara Valley Disposal.

For more information, visit www.ejharrison.com.

Marc Wanamaker – Film Historian. Photo credit Rancho Camulos Museum.
Enlarge Photo

Join Marc Wanamaker, to explore “Early Hollywood and its Camulos Connection”.

Marc Wanamaker world-class film historian, researcher, consultant, author, pod-caster, and owner of the Bison Archives will give an interesting and educational program on how the early film industry had an impact on Los Angeles’ economy and how it intertwined with the early transportation system and culture of Southern California publicizing California as a “go-to” destination for the tourist trade. Camulos played a starring role.

The suggested donation is $10 (cash/check). Book signing and Gift Shop opportunities.

Reservations are recommended. To make reservations call 805-521-1501 or send an email to info@ranchocamulos.org. For Rancho Camulos National Historic Landmark Museum information visit Ranchocamulos.org.
The museum is located on Hwy 126 - 5164 E. Telegraph Road, Piru.

November 27, 2024
The Police Department is reaching out with helpful tips to make our community safer during the upcoming holidays especially for shoppers, retailers, and travelers.

SHOPPERS

• Shoppers beware in crowded stores and shops for pickpockets that work in teams. In a common method, one suspect distracts the victim while the other suspect intentionally bumps the victim and removes a wallet from a back pants pocket simultaneously. Keep wallets in a bag snug close to your body or in a front pants pocket to avoid this.

• When shopping at malls or downtown areas, please observe all parking signs and park in well lighted areas at night. Make sure to lock your vehicle. Do not leave valuables in plain view in your vehicle and they become prime targets for thieves. It only takes a few seconds to smash a car door window to reach in and steal. Place your valuables in a secured trunk or take a break and make trips to drop off some of those gifts at home before continuing to shop.

• Beware of package thieves who follow postal and delivery vehicles when they drop off packages on porches that are ordered online. You can set a shipping delivery time or have a message notification when your packages are delivered to reduce from becoming a porch pirate theft victim. Also, inexpensive surveillance cameras can be installed on your doorbell and other exterior areas of the front of your house.

• Online scams are growing. You may receive a text message, email, or phone call requesting your personal information to register an account or make a payment that is identified as unusual to a consumer. Do not provide any of your personal/accounts information and ask for verification of the requestor companies contact information and email.

• If possible, use a credit card vs a debit card to make holiday purchases. If your card is lost or cared information is compromised, most credit cards provide protection for any fraudulent purchases over $50. With a debit card, if you don’t report the loss right away, you may lose all the contents of the bank account associated with the debit card.

• Please be cautious in observance of holiday traffic and allow for extra travel time to reach your destinations.

RETAILERS

• Retailers look out for those using large amounts of cash for purchases. Make sure to thoroughly inspect large bills to prevent counterfeit fraud. Visit:
https://www.secretservice.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2020-12/KnowYo...

• Make sure all surveillance video cameras are in operational order and are recording continuously. This is helpful to provide law enforcement in the event of a store burglary or theft at your establishment. Surveillance footage oftentimes leads to the identity of the suspect(s) and provide details so other technology can be used to apprehend offenders.

• To deter crime, consider hiring extra loss prevention staff or uniformed security officers during peak shopping hours.

TRAVELERS

• If you are traveling and will be away from your home, set some indoor lights on timers to show the appearance you are home. Also notify trusted neighbors to be vigilant for suspicious activity on the street while you are away.

• Do not post pictures on social media of you and your family/friends at travel destinations while you are out of town. Delay posting travel pictures until after you return home. Posting travel pictures gives the impression you are out of town and burglars will focus on that time to break in to houses.

** FOR ANY CRIMES IN PROGRESS OR TO REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY, IMME-DIATELY DIAL 911 **

Police Officers will be conducting saturation patrols during the holidays looking for those driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol/drugs. Please use rideshare or designate a during the holidays. Taking drunk/drugged drivers off the street saves lives and reduces traffic collisions.

The men and women of the Police Department encourage our residents and business owners to prepare and be vigilant while enjoying the holiday season. Happy Holidays!

Press Release Prepared by: Don Aguilar, Chief of Police

VENTURA, Calif. – The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is reminding Ventura County residents to be aware of possible price gouging for essential foods, medicines, household necessities, and housing following the Mountain Fire incident.

On November 7, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a state of emergency in Ventura County due to the destruction caused by the Mountain Fire. Under Penal Code section 396, during a state of emergency it is illegal for sellers to raise prices more than 10% for items such as fuel, food, and hotel rooms, except under very limited circumstances. There are further protections for residents from eviction or unfair rent increases occurring during a state of emergency. Any violation of Penal Code section 396 is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $10,000 fine.

“Exploiting those affected by the devastating Mountain Fire for financial gain is illegal and will not be tolerated,” said District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. “I encourage anyone who suspects price gouging to report it to our office immediately so we can undertake a review and investigation.”

Concerned residents are encouraged to report instances of suspected price gouging to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office at: DAOpricegouging@ventura.org. Residents are requested to provide the following information:

1. Business or seller name, address, and phone number
2. Identity of the product or service offered by the seller
3. The cost of the product or service prior to November 7, 2024
4. The cost of the product or service (from the same seller) after November 7, 2024
5. Any other details relating to the alleged price gouging
6. Contact infor-mation for the rep-orting party
For more in-formation related to recovery from the Mountain Fire, please review: vcemergency.com and ventura countyrecovers.org.

Contact:
Joey Buttitta
Title:
Communications
Manager/PIO
Phone:
(805) 767-3400
Email:
Joey.Buttitta@ventura.org
Approved: SW
Date: November 15, 2024
Release No.: 24-138

VENTURA, Calif. – The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is reminding Ventura County residents to be aware of possible price gouging for essential foods, medicines, household necessities, and housing following the Mountain Fire incident.

On November 7, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a state of emergency in Ventura County due to the destruction caused by the Mountain Fire. Under Penal Code section 396, during a state of emergency it is illegal for sellers to raise prices more than 10% for items such as fuel, food, and hotel rooms, except under very limited circumstances. There are further protections for residents from eviction or unfair rent increases occurring during a state of emergency. Any violation of Penal Code section 396 is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $10,000 fine.

“Exploiting those affected by the devastating Mountain Fire for financial gain is illegal and will not be tolerated,” said District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. “I encourage anyone who suspects price gouging to report it to our office immediately so we can undertake a review and investigation.”

Concerned residents are encouraged to report instances of suspected price gouging to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office at: DAOpricegouging@ventura.org. Residents are requested to provide the following information:

1. Business or seller name, address, and phone number
2. Identity of the product or service offered by the seller
3. The cost of the product or service prior to November 7, 2024
4. The cost of the product or service (from the same seller) after November 7, 2024
5. Any other details relating to the alleged price gouging
6. Contact infor-mation for the rep-orting party
For more in-formation related to recovery from the Mountain Fire, please review: vcemergency.com and ventura countyrecovers.org.

Contact:
Joey Buttitta
Title:
Communications
Manager/PIO
Phone:
(805) 767-3400
Email:
Joey.Buttitta@ventura.org
Approved: SW
Date: November 15, 2024
Release No.: 24-138

Pictured above is Phoenix, the burned cat who was adopted on Saturday. Photos provided by Randy Friedman.
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By David Goldstein, Ventura County Public Works Agency, IWMD

Residents suffered horrible losses of homes and property during the recent Mountain Fire, but thankfully, no lives were lost. Also, all 44 dogs and 35 cats evacuated from fire areas and left for safekeeping at the Ventura County Animal Shelter have been reunited with their owners.

Although some pets are still missing, six of the seven stray pets recovered from burned areas have been reunited with evacuated families, according to Randy Friedman, Ventura County Animal Control Public Information Officer. The one not reclaimed was a badly burned cat. Ventura County Animal Shelter staff provided extensive treatment and named the cat “Phoenix.” In great news, Phoenix was adopted last weekend.

“This crisis came at a really tough time for us; our shelter was already over capacity, and we had to find a way to accommodate the influx,” said Friedman, noting residents in rural areas also dropped off horses, ducks, and chickens for safekeeping while the people found shelter. Although all those animals are gone from the shelter, Friedman noted the shelter is still at 120 percent of capacity, with about 25 new animals arriving every day.

To address the problem, the Ventura County Animal Shelter is waiving fees on dog adoptions through the end of November. If you have been considering adding a dog to your family, preview dogs available at www.vcas.us/dogs. You can learn about the dog adoption process at www.vcas.us/adopt.

In contrast to the pets who have been reunited with families and returned to their evacuated homes or brought to new homes, many thousands of wild animals have lost their home range, and burned wild land will take years to recover. In the meantime, the web of life on wild lands, from plants and insects to birds and bobcats, will strain to cope with new circumstances.
Burned land can sometimes cause animals to venture into cities. In particular, mice and rats driven from burned landscapes can become problematic in adjacent urban areas. One way people can help animals is to switch away from toxic substances and to instead implement mechanical and exclusion methods of rodent control.

If homeowners near burn areas react to rodent problems by using poison, they risk posing new dangers to wildlife. In particular, anti-coagulant poisons kill mice and rats through internal bleeding, but poisoned pests take a long time to die, and in the meantime, they often become food for wildlife ranging from mountain lions to birds of prey, potentially spreading the poison up the food chain. Anti-coagulants are now banned from residential use, but many people have old pest control materials stored.
If you still have this type of poison, drop it off for safe disposal in your local household hazardous waste program. Contact your city or county waste management department for an appointment.

Instead of poison, a better methods of pest control is called “exclusion,” and it avoids infestations in the first place. Exclusion methods include sealing off potential home entry points with wire mesh, trimming trees overhanging your roof and avoid dense growth capable of sheltering rats, keeping pet food secured, and cleaning up pet droppings promptly.

Mechanical methods of pest control range from simple, classic snap traps to newer traps using electric shocks to kill pests. Some people mistake plastic bait traps for a mechanical trap, but generally, the large, plastic boxes with holes for rodents to crawl into are bait stations. The rodents do not die inside. Instead, they leave after consuming poison, potentially becoming prey for animals not targeted for poison.

If your mechanical traps are not catching rodents, rather than switching to poison, consider optimizing the traps. Set traps in pairs along a wall with the trip pads pointing in opposite directions, and use a proven effective bait. Peanut butter is often effective, and home improvement stores sell customized bait. Also, since mice nibbles do not always trigger traps meant for rats, use both sized traps if you are not sure which type of infestation is in your home.

PoisonFreeMalibu.org provides data about the effects of poisoning on wildlife and alternatives for rodent control, and The Santa Monica Mountains Fund’s “Breaking the Poison Chain” campaign provides explanations of non-toxic methods of rodent control. (see www.samofund.org/takethepledge ).

www.samofund.org/takethepledge
www.PoisonFreeMalibu.org
http://www.ojairaptorcenter.org/

David Goldstein, Environmental Resource Analyst with the Ventura County Public Works Agency, may be reached at (805) 658-4312 or david.goldstein@ventura.org

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