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WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (KABC) — A pack of coyotes has taken up residence in a stalled construction project in West Hollywood, prompting concern from some neighbors over nightly howling and barking.
Residents nicknamed the vacant residential construction project at Romaine Street and North Spaulding Avenue — which they say has been abandoned for three years — the “coyote condo” after the animals moved into the property.
The city of West Hollywood says the construction of a new 22-unit condominium building was halted in 2024. The construction permits previously issued by the city have since expired.
Records list the property owner as Clement Tung.
The city says it has been in contact with Tung’s representative, requiring him to hire a wildlife control operator to assess the site and humanely remove the coyotes.
There’s no word on what will be done about the building itself. Eyewitness News has also reached out to Tung. We’re still waiting to hear back.
Eyewitness News spoke to a wildlife expert about what that removal may look like.
“All the time they’re howling and hooting,” West Hollywood resident Ryan Liske said.
Videos shared by residents show coyotes lounging on balconies and strolling around the abandoned construction site. Liske said he hears the animals loudly howling regularly.
Liske said he came face-to-face with one of the animals.
“And I survived,” Liske said. “I looked the coyote dead in his face, and he looked right back at me, and I thought, ‘You know what, I’m going to just go that way.'”
He said he later saw multiple coyotes nearby.
“I was just walking down to my house over here down the street. I swear I saw like three coyotes trying to circle me over here. I was a little frightened, I can’t lie. And I started booking it, I’m like, ‘I got to go home. I can’t be attacked by some coyotes.’ You know what I’m saying?” Liske said.
Most residents who spoke about the issue said they were more concerned about the nightly howling than being attacked.
“Coyotes are skittish,” resident Beth said.
Mary Cummins with Animal Advocates said coyotes generally do not pose a threat to people.
“No, coyotes don’t attack humans. Their main prey is small animals. It’s generally California ground squirrels, gophers, chipmunks and bunnies,” Cummins said.
Cummins said there are safe ways to encourage the animals to leave the area.
“The best way to get them to move out of this area is to exclude and deter. By exclude, I mean we make it so they can’t go under, over, or through the fencing. And to deter is, after we’ve excluded them from the fencing, we go inside, and we deter them by basically hazing and scaring them out. We leave one exit for them, and we herd them all in that direction, and we get them all out of the building. And then we secure that one last gate,” she said.
Wildlife experts said the coyotes are not a danger to humans, but residents are encouraged to keep small pets inside.
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