Neighbors tracked a wounded, three-legged coyote for weeks before the California Department of Fish and Wildlife acknowledged its first account was wrong

State wildlife officials say they located and euthanized the coyote that bit a 16-month-old child in Los Angeles' Atwater Village on Tuesday, Nov. 10, more than three weeks after first announcing the animal had already been killed. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) acknowledged that its officers had shot the coyote in October but lost track of it, CBS Los Angeles reported.

The correction came only after neighbors kept reporting an injured coyote limping through the neighborhood, with one recent video appearing to show it moving on three legs. For families in Atwater Village, that meant weeks in which a coyote linked to an attack on a child was still roaming, while officials had told the public the case was closed.

The episode is a human-wildlife conflict story and an accountability story at once. It raises practical questions about how wildlife agencies communicate with residents after an attack, and how quickly they respond when the public reports something that contradicts the official account.

From DNA Match to a Limping Coyote

The attack happened on Friday, Oct. 16, near the 3300 block of Glenhurst Avenue. The child was treated at a hospital and released. That evening, CDFW said a coyote in the area had been euthanized, and DNA samples from the child and the coyote were sent for analysis.

On Tuesday, Oct. 20, the department announced the samples "have confirmed the coyote that was taken is the offending animal," according to a CDFW statement quoted by NBC Los Angeles.

Neighbors kept seeing a wounded coyote in the same territory. Resident Dan Bree said he watched the animal for days. "It's frustrating to know that DFW is not being 100% straight with us," he told CBS Los Angeles. Residents said they turned to Rebecca Dmytryk, CEO of Humane Wildlife Control, after they could not get a response from the department.

After those reports surfaced, CDFW said its officers had shot the coyote but lost it, believing it would likely die from blood loss. The department said it found and euthanized the animal on Nov. 10.

Questions for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Several questions remain open. Published reports do not include a CDFW explanation of why the October announcement described the coyote as euthanized, how the department's DNA comparison was carried out given that the animal was not recovered at the time, or why residents reporting the injured coyote did not get a timely response. No individual CDFW official has been named in the latest statements.

Nature World News is not suggesting a second animal was involved, and none of the reporting says so — the issue is the accuracy of public statements during an active wildlife safety case. An injured, habituated predator in a dense neighborhood is a public safety concern, and residents rely on official updates to decide when children and pets can safely be outside.

Dmytryk had already called the original attack "100% preventable," ABC7 reported, and said she submitted a complaint through the state's wildlife reporting system in July without receiving a response.

Feeding Complaints Months Before the Bite

Residents told reporters a neighbor had been feeding a coyote nicknamed "Wylie" since January, and that it became bold enough to approach homes and chase children. In October, CDFW spokesperson Cort Klopping said the department had contacted the individual and would file a case with the Los Angeles city attorney's office for illegal feeding of wildlife, according to a Los Angeles Times report republished by DNYUZ. Los Angeles Animal Services had inspected the property in May but said it lacked evidence then. No charge has been publicly announced.

Wildlife officials consistently point to feeding as a key driver of risky coyote behavior in cities — coyotes that link people with food lose their natural wariness, and small children are the most vulnerable because of their size. University of California researchers, including Cooperative Extension human-wildlife interactions advisor Niamh Quinn, have found that Los Angeles coyotes often travel along parks, railways, and flood channels, which helps residents near those corridors anticipate encounters.

Serious coyote attacks on people remain rare in Southern California, even though coyotes now live in nearly every part of greater Los Angeles, from hillside canyons to dense flatland neighborhoods like Atwater Village. The risk is concentrated where animals have been fed or have lost their fear of people, not spread evenly across the city.

Keeping Children and Pets Safe in Coyote Country

CDFW's coyote guidance asks residents to secure trash, recycling, and pet food, keep small pets inside at night, leash pets on walks, keep poultry in secure pens, and clean up fallen birdseed. If a coyote approaches, keep a safe distance, back away slowly, keep children and pets close, make loud noise, and wave your arms to look bigger. If a coyote makes contact, the department advises fighting back and then calling animal control or 911.

Watch for coyotes that approach people in daylight, follow walkers or linger near homes and schools, since these behaviors often signal habituation. Report them through CDFW's online wildlife incident system and to Los Angeles Animal Services. Never try to trap or haze an injured animal yourself.

The next developments to watch are whether the city attorney files charges in the feeding case and whether CDFW explains its October statements. Atwater Village residents should continue reporting unusual coyote behavior and supervise young children outdoors, especially around dawn and dusk.

What Readers Want to Know

What happened in Atwater Village? A coyote bit a 16-month-old child near Glenhurst Avenue on Oct. 16. The child was treated and released.

What did CDFW originally say? That the coyote had been euthanized and that DNA confirmed it was the animal involved.

What does CDFW say now? That officers shot the coyote but lost track of it, then found and euthanized it on Nov. 10.

Is anyone facing charges? CDFW said it would refer a resident accused of feeding the coyote to the Los Angeles city attorney. No charge has been announced.

What should I do if a coyote approaches? Back away slowly, keep children and pets close, make noise, and look bigger. If it makes contact, fight back and call 911.

How do I report a coyote? Use CDFW's online wildlife incident reporting system or contact Los Angeles Animal Services.