A 16-month-old child was bitten by a coyote in Los Angeles’ Atwater Village neighbourhood, prompting renewed scrutiny of months of complaints about the animal’s presence and behaviour. The incident occurred on October 16 on the 3300 block of Glenhurst Avenue, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). DNA testing subsequently confirmed that the animal was responsible for the attack, officials said on October 20.
The child was taken to a hospital, treated and released. Wildlife officers later located a coyote in the same area and euthanised it.
The incident has raised questions among residents about whether earlier action could have prevented the encounter, with neighbours saying they had repeatedly alerted authorities to concerns about the coyote.
Richard Dean, one of the residents who raised concerns, shared an email dated June 19 in which he warned city officials that someone could be seriously hurt if the situation continued. CBS Los Angeles reported that the identification remained unclear.
Residents told the Los Angeles Times that the coyote had been a concern in the neighbourhood since at least January, when they alleged that a neighbour began feeding the animal. They said it subsequently began approaching homes, entering yards and appearing around residents and their pets. Residents said they had contacted Los Angeles Animal Services and state wildlife officials about the coyote from around June. Dan Bree, another resident, said neighbours had been trying to get authorities to address the issue for months. However, the DNA results did not establish whether the euthanised coyote was the same animal residents had nicknamed “Wiley”, which had reportedly been seen around Atwater Village for months. They said they had asked the individual to stop, but the allegations have not been established as a legal finding. Joe Marconi, who lives across the street from the person identified in the complaints, told the Los Angeles Times that he had raised concerns after seeing the coyote near his young daughter and chasing his cat.
The toddler’s injury prompted renewed criticism from residents who questioned why the animal had remained in the area despite repeated reports. Some residents alleged that a neighbour had been feeding the coyote, potentially making it more accustomed to human presence. Other residents also described encounters they considered worrying. Wildlife authorities advise residents not to approach or feed coyotes, to secure rubbish and other potential food sources, and to keep children and pets close when an animal is nearby.