Pack of coyotes takes over abandoned West Hollywood complex, locals plead for help as apex predators roam streets

A pack of coyotes have moved into an abandoned West Hollywood condo complex, forcing locals to live in fear while demanding the city steps in.

The complex, which has been under construction and empty for years, was first taken over by homeless squatters which have now been replaced by the coyotes.

“It’s kind of interesting to walk out of your apartment and look up and there’s a coyote looking at you,” Cindy Sorley told CBS LA.

Shocking videos and pictures appear to show six coyotes roaming the empty building, with each one taking up a different room. There’s also videos capturing daily and nightly howling/barking of the pack. 

Neighbors said they first started noticing the animals move in around the first part of the year, and now they can be seen day and night roaming the streets and buildings while taking up shelter in the empty condominium.

“The other night when I came home, there were six right around my car,” Sorley added.

“People are avoiding even walking the dogs by that structure out of fear, obviously,” said Collin Newman, a neighbor in the area.

“There’s just, that’s not the society we live in,” he added. “So, animal control has to really get on their game and do something about it because no one should feel unsafe.”

Residents told CBS they have reached out to the city for help, but said they’ve had no response. Others who live in the area admitted this living arrangement has to change.

“The City of West Hollywood is aware of community concerns regarding coyote activity,” a city spokesperson told The California Post, and referenced the city’s “coyote management and coexistence plan” adopted in 2018.

“The plan emphasizes public education, prevention, and humane coexistence strategies, including guidance on safely hazing coyotes that exhibit habituated behavior,” the city said.

Hazing is one of the things to do if you encounter one of the pack, it said. It involves “being ‘big and loud’ by waving your arms over your head, making loud noises or squirting the coyote with water until the coyote(s) chooses to leave.”

California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said they’ve seen similar trends across LA county, placing the warmer temperatures and loss of habitat from the 2025 wildfires in Pacific Palisades and Eaton as one of the reasons.

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