Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
4 Coyotes Euthanized, Park Closed After Series Of Attacks On Humans
(Photo by philcalvert via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
()
Four coyotes were euthanized after a recent series of attacks happened at Grant Rea Park in Montebello.
Two of the incidents occurred over the weekend, reports NBC 4. The latest one happened on Sunday at 1 a.m. when a victim who was rummaging through a trash can ended up with 19 puncture wounds on his leg. There were at least three reports of coyote attacks in the area in recent weeks. Grant Rea Park is expected to be closed until Wednesday as animal control experts conduct further investigation.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife told Fox 11 that experts targeted the most aggressive coyotes in the area. The euthanized coyotes will be tested for rabies, with results expected in about a week. "The animals appear to be healthy," said a spokesperson for Fish and Wildlife. "They're just opportunistic hunters. They're doing what coyotes do. Unfortunately, it's in conflict with the people here in Montebello." Officials stressed that there are no signs of a rabies outbreak, and urged residents to continue with their daily routines.
#GrantReaPark in @MontebelloCity closed after 3 coyote attacks. Details @ABC7 at 11:30 pic.twitter.com/QeGi9XeWnS
— Sid Garcia (@abc7sid) August 9, 2016
Support for LAist comes from
Coyotes, as indicated by studies, have grown used to living in urban areas in the L.A. County. According to data compiled by KCET, in the past few years Animal Services has received an increasing number of calls regarding coyotes; the number of calls in 2013 were five times the figures from 2010. Several cities in Southern California have reported a rise coyote sightings, and some of them have adopted more aggressive measures in dealing with the animals. In 2014, the Seal Beach City Council voted to approve a measure to trap and kill coyotes, though it backtrackedafter discovering that the company contracted to euthanize the coyotes—Critter Busters—did not put the animals to sleep before they were killed. Last year the City of Long Beach also adopted a plan that would allow animal control experts to kill a coyote if it has shown enough incidences of being aggressive towards pets, or entering a resident's backyard. In May, Torrance also OKed trapping coyotes after reporting an uptick in coyote-related attacks on pets. It should be noted that it is illegal in California to relocate a coyote, so any trapped coyote would be required by law to be euthanized, according to the Daily Breeze.
L.A., on the other hand, espouses a different attitude for the most part. In June, the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services released a report that recommended education and the hiring of more wildlife staff to address the growing number of coyote encounters. It did not, however, recommend trapping and killing the animals at any capacity.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago. -
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
Best of LAist