Huntington Beach residents on edge due to rise in coyote attacks

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Aurora Campos Pollack points to the spot where she witnessed two coyotes attack and kill her 6-year-old cat named Baby Kitty outside her Huntington Beach apartment early Monday morning.

"They were ripping him apart ... then I started screaming, 'Oh no, it's my cat, it's my cat,'" said Pollack. "It was awful. For two nights, I had nightmares."

Neighbors say it's the latest in a string of coyote attacks.

In Huntington Beach, nearly 60 pets have been reported injured or killed by coyotes so far this year. That's more than triple the number (16) compared with the same time period last year.

Residents are keeping their small pets close to them, and many here say they wish the city would do more.

"Trapping, whatever has to be done to make sure we're all safe," said Tyler Kreymer, a neighbor who contacted ABC7 with the hashtag #abc7eyewitness.

"Nobody wants to hurt them, but we don't want to get hurt either," said Tina Saylors.

So far, there have been no reports of attacks on people in Huntington Beach. But in Irvine, at least four young children have been attacked by coyotes since May. Trappers have euthanized several coyotes there.

"From what the experts have said, trapping does not solve the problem. We cannot fully eradicate coyotes," said Officer Jennifer Marlatt with the Huntington Beach Police Department.

Marlatt says trapping took place in Huntington Beach in 2010 and 2013, but only three coyotes were caught.

For now, the city urges residents to get rid of outside food and water sources. Keep small pets inside at dawn and dusk when coyotes are most active.

Wildlife experts say if a coyote approaches, pick up small children or pets, and don't turn your back on the animal. If a coyote is acting aggressively, call 911.

For more information, the Huntington Beach city website is dedicated to coyotes and how residents can report one: http://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/i_want_to/coyote-info.cfm.