West Hills : Residents, City to Meet About Coyote Attacks

Alarmed over recent coyote sightings near an elementary school in their neighborhood, West Hills residents will meet with city animal-control experts Tuesday to discuss how to protect children and pets.

Citing a coyote attack on a toddler in Griffith Park four months ago and an attack on a poodle last month in West Hills, residents say they fear the worst.

“We’re just trying to act before we get an attack,” said Diane Booth.

In the Griffith Park incident, the toddler suffered bite wounds but no permanent injury. The poodle had to have several stitches.

Last month, after residents reported seeing coyotes near Justice Street Elementary School, City Councilwoman Laura Chick asked the city to begin a trapping program in the neighborhood. The city, which banned trapping two years ago at the behest of animal-rights activists, revised the policy last year to allow trapping, but only as a last resort.

But Animal Regulation Department officials say they aren’t prepared to begin trapping at this time. Instead, they offered to set box traps for residents for a $200 fee plus a $100 refundable deposit, providing that residents meet certain conditions, such as erecting fences and keeping pets indoors at night.

The meeting will start at 7 p.m. in the Justice Street Elementary School auditorium, 23350 Justice St.