DNA analysis verified that the coyote euthanized by state wildlife officials was the same animal that bit an unidentified toddler in Atwater Village. The confirmation was announced on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
Following the confirmation, Atwater Village residents scheduled a meeting to discuss coyote mitigation measures. State wildlife officials had previously euthanized the animal after the bite incident.
Coyote encounters have increasingly concerned Los Angeles neighborhoods, prompting wildlife agencies to intervene and prompting residents to consider preventive strategies.