From the Valley to Leimert Park and Hancock Park, people in communities across Southern California have been spotting coyotes in their neighborhoods.

Not nestled in the mountains, but in urban areas where many young children and house pets live.   

“We actually shouldn’t be surprised that coyotes are showing up in what we consider to be non-traditional locations like the middle of a city,” said Tim Daly, California Department Fish and Wildlife public information officer.  

Daly says that’s in part because coyotes are looking for food and resources not being found in their environments. And, what we are doing might be inviting to them.   

“It’s almost always unintentional. We might forget that we left the pet food out at night. We might not have remembered to clean our barbecue at the end of a long meal,” Daly added. “And, there’s those odors and bits of food still on a barbecue. We may be forgetting to trim under our backyard brush because we think, oh, it looks so lush and fully grown but that’s also a place where wildlife can hide. It’s a shelter.”

Reports about coyotes to their office are tracked.  

Total coyote interactions 2017-2024

Coyote sightings, depredation, possible human conflict, and nuisance complaints.

Our analysis of data obtained by the NBC4 I-Team shows calls to the department about coyotes in Los Angeles County have increased in all categories -from sightings to nuisance- compared to last year.   

Looking back to 2017, most reports about coyote run-ins with pets or livestock or what’s called “depredation” in LA County happened in zip code 91745 — the Hacienda Heights neighborhood.  

Most nuisance reports, which could be anything from tipping trash cans or making messes, were most reported in the 91711 area near Claremont.   

And, most of the calls about potential human conflict came from zip code 90027, the Griffith Park neighborhood, followed closely by 91364, the community of Woodland Hills.    

“We look at those reports every day, and then we will respond accordingly if we feel there’s a potential public safety issue going on, we will work with the people who made that report to make sure A, they’re okay, and B, they’re doing everything they can to eliminate what’s attracting them to their yard,” Daly said.   

Daly believes part of the rise in report could coincide with more people at home. 

“Also, more of us have cameras on our homes and in our backyards than ever. And so, we’re getting a lot more sightings reported to us that way as well,” he added   

He says sighting numbers might be a bit skewed because multiple reports might come in about the same animal.  

Again, the department tells the NBC4 I-Team, we could be the ones creating space for coyotes and other wildlife to feel invited, barbeques not being cleaned up, fallen fruit in your yard, bird feeders with overflow of seed are attractive to coyotes.   

The department wants to hear from you if you come across a coyote, especially if you feel at risk, so they can better access what is happening.    

They have a way to do that right on the front page of their website. There is also a link that explains how to deal with not just coyote but any wildlife you might come across in your home.    

The man accused of commandeering an LA Metro bus at gunpoint in South LA, holding a driver and passenger hostage, and of murdering another passenger, previously served time in state prison for transporting or selling controlled substances, records and officials confirmed Thursday.

Lamont A. Campbell was arrested Wednesday by LAPD SWAT officers after the overnight standoff and pursuit, in which the bus passenger died after being shot multiple times, allegedly by Campbell, police said.

Jail records showed Campbell was being held without bail and was expected to make an initial appearance in court Monday.

No criminal charges had been filed in the bus hijacking as of Thursday afternoon.

Authorities have not shared the name or age of the person who was murdered during the ordeal.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said Campbell, 51, began serving a 5 year term for transportation or sales of a controlled substance in August, 1996, and was paroled in 1998.

Campbell returned to prison in January, 2010 to serve a 6 year term for transportation or sales of a controlled substance with a prior conviction, and was released on parole in 2011.

He was released from parole supervision the next year.

LA County Superior Court records show Campbell pleaded no contest in 2018 to a misdemeanor drug possession charge and was placed on 3 years probation.

The LAPD said officers responding to a shots fired call near Figueroa and West 119th St. early Wednesday spotted a man, later identified as Campbell, boarding the Metro bus.

The bus operator was forced at gunpoint to drive through Downtown and stopped after running over spike strips near 6th and Alameda Streets, where members of the LAPD’s SWAT team stormed the bus, rescued the driver, and arrested Campbell.

Firefighters and a hazardous materials team responded to a rollover crash and fire involving a big rig carrying lithium ion batteries Thursday near the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro.

There were no injuries reported in the crash early Thursday afternoon near the busy shipping port. Details about what led to the rollover were not immediately available.

Traffic was backing up on and near the bridge.

Flames and thick smoke could be seen coming from the shipping container on the trailer of the truck, which was on its side in the 900 block of North Seaside Avenue.

There were reports of one battery exploding, the LA Fire Department said.

LAFD Alert-Update #SanPedro Vehicle Rollover with Hazardous Materials 940 N Seaside Av MAP: https://t.co/ZFd4vTz5Aw FS40; DETAILS: https://t.co/uXgdfL1ThP

— LAFD 🔥 (@LAFD) September 26, 2024

“Firefighters have created a large perimeter around the site and are in the defensive mode (keeping their distance with hose lines for protection),” the LAFD said.

No evacuations were ordered early Thursday afternoon.

The 47 Freeway was closed east of Ferry Street.

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