California Coyote Attack: 91-Year-Old Man Viciously Mauled In Driveway, 2 'Innocent' Canines Euthanized

Two coyotes were euthanized after an elderly man was viciously attacked in Laguna Beach, California, last week.

According to local reports, the 91-year-old man was viciously attacked when he bent down to pick up a newspaper from his driveway on May 15. He was administered with rabies shots as a precautionary measure.

Following the attack, two coyotes were caught, however, neither matched the DNA of the canine that attacked the man. The first coyote was trapped and put down on Friday, while the second one was euthanized the following day. The search for the animal that attacked the man continued over the next few days. However, the hunt was concluded on May 19.

“We put a concerted effort in following the attack. But, the further we get from the time frame of the attack, the less chance of success we have. It’s difficult to capture these animals because they are super sneaky. That’s why USDA Wildlife services are involved because they are most knowledgeable,” California Department of Fish and Wildlife official Capt. Patrick Foy told local media.

Foy added that DNA sample from one of the bites confirmed that the man was attacked by a female adult coyote, and not from a dog.

“Coyote attacks are more complicated than mountain lion attacks. With coyotes, you have groups of animals that tend to behave the same way. When they let themselves be seen, we are concerned. There is a fine line we have to manage once the animal has attacked a person or pet,” he said.

The killing of the two coyotes hasn’t gone down too well with activists.

“I’m very sad and disappointed. I don’t understand the rationale to kill two innocent coyotes,” Councilman Steve Dicterow said.

Judie Mancuso, an animal activist, said, “So you just kill your way through the population to find the right one? Can’t you trap and test DNA and keep them in a holding area?”

Foy, however, said that keeping them in the holding area would pose more public hazards.

“If we put an animal in a confined area, which might require several days, we’d have to give it food and water, which further imprints it on people as a source of food,” he said.