SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - A bold coyote was captured walking just a few feet behind an unsuspecting person walking in Normal Heights last week.
The images were posted to the Nextdoor app and were reportedly taken at 7:30 a.m.
No one was apparently injured, but it sparked a conversation among resident about what they can or should do in a similar situation.
10News spoke to wildlife trapping expert David Bertram about why a coyote might behave in such a way and what you can legally do about one that might be in your area.
Bertram, of Critter Gitters, said, "He's trying to supply all the pups food or it's sick or it's a really old coyote that's just lost its fear of humans."
According to Bertram, it's normal to see coyotes all over San Diego, given the landscape, but it's not normal to see them hunting during the day or so close to people.
Bertram's job is to trap the so-called "bad" coyotes.
"If you leave a bad coyote that has bad behavior in a pack, when that pack has a litter of puppies, that litter will learn that bad behavior and the bad behavior of the old generation becomes normal behavior in the next generation," Bertram explained.
When it comes to getting rid of them, Bertram said there are a few rules to keep in mind.
"In California, they definitely are considered a pest. They're not protected, so if you want to hire somebody to come and trap that coyote, or you want to take it in your own hands, as long as you're abiding by the law you're allowed to do that," said Bertram.
