Coyotes snatch dog on walk in Huntington Beach

HUNTINGTON BEACH (KTLA) -- Huntington Beach residents are demanding a solution to a coyote problem in the city, after three coyotes killed a dog at a park last weekend.

A couple says they were walking their small two dogs at the Huntington Beach Central Park nature reserve when a trio of coyotes snatched one of the dogs, named Chloe.

Coyote sightings and attacks have been on the rise in Orange County in the last year, with incidents reported in Huntington Beach, Anaheim, and Costa Mesa, among other areas.

It’s a big safety concern for many residents, especially after an 8-year-old girl was attacked last May.

Coyotes roam parks, wetlands and neighborhoods near foothill areas.

Some cities have hired pest control to trap and kill the animals. Others are even hiring sharp shooters.

Chloe’s owners say they’re mad because they had no idea that there were coyotes in the area.

“At the entrance of the parking lot, there are tons of park rules for dogs and people, but there’s not one warning sign saying be on the lookout for coyotes because they do exist in this park,” said Nicole Elliott.

There will be a meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Huntington Beach Central Park Library Theatre, and concerned residents are encouraged to attend.

The City Council, Orange County Animal Control and the Department of Fish and Game will be there to try to come up with a solution to the coyote problem.

Meantime, safety experts say there are some things you can do to protect your small pets.

You should make sure your small animals are indoors and keep them on a short leash when you walk them.

Additionally, you should avoid keeping any food outside and trim excess vegetation so coyotes don’t have a place to hide.

You can also install fences, which can be a deterrent, even though coyotes can jump fairly high.