California neighbors alarmed as coyotes take over abandoned building dubbed the 'coyote condo'

Neighbors in West Hollywood say a construction site that has sat idle is now sheltering coyotes.

ABC7 is reporting that the pack of coyotes can be heard howling every night, raising fears about the safety of pets and children and the condition of the animals themselves.

Locals have started referring to the unfinished building as the "coyote condo."

What's happening?

Footage circulating among neighbors, and shared with ABC7, appears to show at least four coyotes stretched out on the unfinished balconies of a residential project near Romaine Street and North Spaulding Avenue, and aerial video shows another moving across the property. 

The multi-unit development was left unfinished after work stopped. Residents told ABC7 the stalled site has effectively become a home base for the animals.

Resident Cindy Sorley summed up the long delay, telling the outlet, "It's been years. Years and years. I've asked different people. Some people say it's been four years or longer."

Coyotes are not unusual in Los Angeles County, where sightings in urban areas are fairly common. In this case, though, the human-made structure appears to have become a semi-permanent refuge, bringing wildlife and residents into unusually close proximity.

Why does it matter?

Human development can shape wildlife behavior, sometimes in ways that create strain for both animals and people. Abandoned construction sites can provide shelter, while nearby streets, trash, pet food, and other urban resources can make it easier for wild animals to remain in the area.

This habitat overlap can pose real risks, including danger to small pets. Residents also said the nighttime howling has made it difficult to sleep.

As the BBC has explained in its reporting on why wild animals attack humans, many wildlife conflicts are linked at least in part to human encroachment, habitat disruption, and the ways cities alter animal behavior.

There is also concern about the coyotes' condition. Resident Michael Laselva told ABC7, "It's not nice seeing them just like walking all around here all skinny and fragile looking. You can see they're not as strong and good looking as they should be." 

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