Coyotes take up residence at an abandoned construction site in West Hollywood
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) - In West Hollywood (WeHo), coyotes have taken up residence in an abandoned construction site.
WeHo residents, like Cindy Sorlay, easily spotted them inside their open-air townhomes during the day before coming out at night.
"And so the other night when I got out of my car and I saw six of them, I was like, 'Oh,' and I had to park right there because it was the only parking spot in the area," Sorlay shared. "You know, so I just kind of went, 'Shh, shh,' and kind of got them out of the way and they did move, and then I was able to walk into my place."
However, in WeHo, one of the first cities in the nation to change the phrase pet owner to guardian, pet protection is the priority.
"Used to be more cats in the neighborhood and I have not noticed them as much now," said Anthony Scherz, another WeHo resident.
Scherz and other neighbors said the construction stopped a couple of years ago, construction they were never happy about after two homes were leveled.
"They knocked down both of the homes to build this monstrosity apartment building," he explained.
Now, just east of Fairfax and below Santa Monica, a new gang is in the hood.
"I'm more worried about seeing human beings in front of me at night than coyotes, you know? Like, I love animals," said Michael Laselva, another WeHo resident. "I mean, the only bad thing about them being here is just that it's not their environment, you know?"
The City of West Hollywood is aware of community concerns regarding coyote activity, and they have had a comprehensive Coyote Management and Coexistence Plan in place since 2018.
The plan emphasizes public education, prevention, and humane coexistence strategies, including guidance on safely hazing coyotes that exhibit habituated behavior.
In addition, 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.
For now, Scherz said, "They have squatters rights, so I think they're fine."
