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Officials have trapped and killed seven coyotes in Laguna Woods after the animals reportedly killed several neighborhood dogs, reports L.A. Now. The coyotes became a problem in recent weeks, as residents in a senior living community reported that their dogs were being attacked while they were out for walks. Two women were injured trying to save their dogs from coyotes -- one was bit on the hand and the other dragged as a coyote ran with her dog in its mouth.
The Laguna Woods City Council recently OK'ed a permit for professionals to shoot and kill the coyotes. One of the seven coyotes killed was shot, and the other six were trapped and euthanized. According to L.A. Now:
It's standard industry practice to euthanize captured coyotes rather than relocate them, [Jim Beres of the Laguna Beach Police Department] said. Otherwise, the animals would just continue the dangerous behavior somewhere else. "It just relocates the problem to another community," Beres said. "They propagate so quickly -- they're not an endangered species by any means -- and once they've learned to come in contact with humans, that doesn't go away."