Coyote Attacks Toddler In LA Backyard, Neighbors Say Officials Were Warned: Reports

LOS ANGELES, CA — A coyote attacked a 16-month-old boy in Northeast Los Angeles Friday, prompting wildlife officials to euthanize the animal and raising questions about whether earlier warnings from neighbors could have prevented the attack.

The attack occurred on the 3300 block of Glenhurst Avenue, a dense largely single-family neighborhood just north of the 5 Freeway in Atwater Village, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

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The boy was in his family's backyard when the coyote attacked him and then followed the child and his mother inside their home, the family told KTLA.

The child was treated at a local hospital and released, according to wildlife officials.

State wildlife officers located a coyote near the scene Friday evening and euthanized it. Officials collected DNA samples from the child and the animal to determine whether it was the same coyote responsible for the attack, officials said.

The attack has alarmed neighbors, some of whom say they had been raising concerns for months about a coyote nicknamed "Wylie" that had become increasingly comfortable around people.

Some residents suspected that people in the neighborhood were feeding the animal, potentially encouraging it to approach humans, ABC 7 reported.

Rebecca Dmytryk, a wildlife expert with Humane Wildlife Control Inc., told KTLA she submitted a complaint to state wildlife officials in July about a coyote's behavior in the neighborhood but never received a response. Other residents had also contacted Los Angeles Animal Services, according to the station.

"What concerned me was the coyote just being comfortable around people," Dmytryk told KTLA. "The authorities knew about it and didn't do the right thing. They didn't intervene in time and they were warned."

Other neighbors said they have noticed more coyotes roaming the area.

"Before it was just Wylie and one coyote who seemed kind of friendly. Now it's sometimes even packs walking around, which is pretty scary," resident Tori Samuel told ABC 7.

It remains unclear whether the coyote euthanized Friday was the animal neighbors had been seeing for months.

Residents are planning a community meeting Tuesday to discuss ways to prevent future encounters with coyotes while protecting neighborhood pets.

Wildlife officials recommend that anyone approached by a coyote keep a safe distance, back away slowly and keep children and pets close. People should make loud noises, wave their arms to appear larger and allow the animal to leave on its own.

If a coyote attacks, officials advise fighting back and contacting animal control or calling 911.

City News Service contributed to this report.