Residents of Los Angeles have mixed opinions after a pack of coyotes moved into an abandoned construction site.
The West Hollywood site, once intended as a residential building, ended construction four years ago, according to KTLA-TV.
“It’s a developer who lost their funding, and it’s been basically an eyesore for the last three years. We had some homeless people living in there. They kicked them out. And then the coyotes came in, and they let them stay,” nearby resident Paddy Fallon explained to KABC-TV.
Residents in the area say as many as six coyotes live at the site, according to KCBS-TV, and some are calling on authorities to do something about it.
“People are avoiding even walking their dogs by that structure, out of fear, obviously. You shouldn’t have to fear getting out of your car and suddenly be surrounded by, you know, half a dozen wild animals. There’s just, that’s not the society we live in, so animal control has to really kind of get on their game and do something about it,” area resident Collin Newman told KCBS.
In a statement to KNBC-TV, city officials said West Hollywood “has had a comprehensive Coyote Management and Coexistence Plan in place since 2018. The plan emphasizes public education, prevention, and humane coexistence strategies. … The City’s approach prioritizes non-lethal management techniques and ongoing public outreach while working closely with Los Angeles County agencies to monitor coyote activity.”
Some have concerns about the coyotes’ welfare. Michael Laselva told KCBS that “they just shouldn’t be here at all, you know? If you look at them, they’re fragile. They have no food, no water.”
Opinions are also divided on the racket the coyotes make at night. One resident, Cindy Sorley, told KABC, “Late at night … 11, 12, 1, 2, you’ll hear them howling. Really, really loud. Like, it will wake you up.”
Another resident, Paul Manganello, told KTLA, “I find this kind of exciting, actually. Every night around 10 or 11, you start to hear this gang of coyotes howling. It’s not the worst thing in the world; it reminds you that you’re part of nature.”
