Residents urge emergency action as Laguna Woods reports repeated coyote attacks

Dozens of Laguna Woods residents told the City Council on Jan. 27 that a recent surge in bold, daytime coyote behavior has moved beyond a neighborhood nuisance and become a public‑safety threat.

Speakers recounted repeated attacks on pets and several incidents in which residents were injured or forced to fall while trying to protect their dogs. "We need to kill the coyotes," one resident said, describing the loss of a 15‑year‑old dog and urging targeted lethal removal of older, habituated animals.

Other speakers urged a range of responses: stricter enforcement of feeding bans, expanded trapping and hunting, a mandatory emergency enforcement protocol that sets clear danger thresholds, and exploration of population‑control options such as sterilization. Gay Paige, who provided a packet of proposed measures to council members, said Title 5 of the Laguna Woods Municipal Code and California law permit targeted removal when public safety is threatened and urged council to adopt time‑triggered, evidence‑based action steps.

City staff and council members acknowledged the emotional toll of the attacks and the urgency residents expressed. The city manager said staff will "double up" abatement efforts, adding trapping to ongoing hunting operations, and emphasized the importance of residents reporting sighting details so contractors can identify hotspots. "There is no legal impediment to us working to get rid of the coyotes," staff said during the meeting.

Council members and residents disagreed on the pace and scope of possible responses. Some urged immediate, aggressive removal; others warned of the limits of short‑term measures and urged a multi‑pronged approach that includes habitat modification, better coordination with Laguna Woods Village boards and longer‑term population controls.

Residents and advocates also asked the city to clarify which agency handles which tasks, to improve data collection on human injuries and delayed dog deaths, and to pursue inter‑city or state coordination where necessary.

Council members said they heard the community’s concerns and that staff will continue abatement activities, add trapping, and follow up with more targeted action as data and property‑owner permissions allow. The council did not take a formal vote on a new policy at the meeting; staff said they would continue the existing abatement program and pursue additional measures where feasible.