Seal Beach coyote problem to be discussed at city council meeting

SEAL BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Seal Beach officials are planning to hold a meeting Monday evening about a growing coyote problem in the city.

Residents say the wild animals have been terrorizing neighborhoods, and now some locals want the wild animals trapped and killed. More than 45 residents have reported that their pets were killed by coyotes.

A five-member committee, which was formed earlier this month, decided that trapping the animals would be a short-term solution. The committee is also recommending that the city clean up overgrown areas where coyotes take shelter, require that trash cans be covered, and impose $100 fines on people who are caught indirectly feeding the coyotes.

The Seal Beach City Council will meet at 7 p.m. to potentially vote on the recommendations. Residents whose pets were killed say they plan to hold a memorial before the meeting, hoping to send a message to city officials.

A Facebook page with about 500 followers has been created to spread awareness about the growing coyote problem. People are reporting sightings and posting pictures of pets that have been killed.

Some residents argue that the coyotes have nowhere to go and that pet owners should be responsible for their animals.

"I'm an advocate for the coyote. We have to be responsible for our pets. We have to keep them inside at night," said Seal Beach resident Jeri Watts.

Coyote sightings have been reported in surrounding areas, including Garden Grove, Los Alamitos and Westminster.

"You can hear them at night. Especially on a full moon, they'll be howling. It sounds almost like wolves, but it's just coyotes barking and howling in the same way," said Orange County resident Steve Harrelson.

Two years ago, Huntington Beach city officials considered a similar plan to trap and kill coyotes, but they voted against it. Instead, they launched a public awareness campaign.