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Coyote officials thought they had killed after child attack seen alive in LA neighborhood
California wildlife officials confirmed that a coyote named Wiley, which had bitten a toddler and alarmed residents in Los Angeles’s Atwater Village, was killed after being shot a second time. Officials had believed the animal died after they shot it in October, but residents later reported seeing it alive and limping.
The first shooting took place on 16 October, but officers could not find Wiley’s body and concluded it had died. After the coyote reappeared, officers returned and killed it, with the department confirming this on Tuesday. Some neighbours questioned the decision to euthanise Wiley and said they thought it should have been relocated.
In short
- Wiley was shot in October but survived.
- Residents later saw the coyote limping.
- Officials confirmed it was killed after a second shooting.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Officials could argue that killing Wiley was a proportionate way to protect residents after it had bitten a toddler and continued to appear in the neighbourhood. Relocation might have transferred the risk elsewhere, while the animal’s survival after being shot could have raised concerns about leaving an injured coyote at large.
The case against
Neighbours could argue that relocation should have been considered because it might have removed the immediate danger without killing the animal. They may also question whether lethal action was necessary after the first shooting, particularly if non-lethal options or a safer way to capture Wiley were available.
Explained simply
Coyotes are wild animals that live in parts of Los Angeles, including neighbourhoods where homes and parks meet green spaces. They can become used to people and may pose a risk to pets or, rarely, to children.
California wildlife officials are responsible for responding to reports of dangerous animals. Options can include monitoring, relocation or killing an animal, depending on the circumstances and applicable rules.
The case drew attention because a toddler had been bitten and residents reported seeing the coyote after officials believed it had died. Neighbours differed over whether killing it or relocating it was the right response.