Coyotes are typically found in rural and urban areas across Southern California, but residents in a retirement community in Orange County say they’ve had some scary encounters with the animals lately.
When KNX News’ Jon Baird went to Laguna Woods Village on Friday morning, he spoke with a trio who had spotted a coyote minutes prior.
“They're very brave, or they're not afraid of us anymore,” one woman said.
Another woman detailed her coyote encounter in which she had to protect her dog.
“I was…not attacked, but cornered by a coyote,” she recalled. “I had a little dog, so I picked him up, and I yelled and everything, and [the coyote] didn't move.”
Residents say coyote spottings have been more frequent and that they’ve attacked people and pets. In one case, one woman told KTLA that an elderly woman was knocked down by one and ended up hospitalized.
Residents told Baird the coyotes have no fear.
“They're not afraid of horns,” she said. “They're not afraid of sticks, whatever you might have. They say call animal control if they're aggressive, but it's very hard to tell, especially if you are physically compromised. You're keeping an eye on your dogs or whatever.”
They’ve been told there is not much officials can do since coyotes are protected animals. Residents are urged to walk in groups, make noise if they encounter one, have some pepper spray handy, and walk and carry a big stick.
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