Several coyotes that have made LaGuardia Airport their home were euthanized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday, the Daily News reported.
In a statement, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said the coyotes had gotten comfortable in their new home, which increased the chances of an attack.
“Last night, five coyotes were located and euthanized to help keep airport travelers, workers and nearby residents safe after the coyotes became acclimated to humans, increasing the possibility of an attack,” the agency said. “The actions were in accordance with the law for handling such situations.”
A coyote was first spotted around the airport in May. A USPS delivery person saw the animal in the vicinity of 82nd Street and Ditmars Boulevard.
Frank Vincenti of the Wild Dog Foundation told the Daily News that he had counted eight pups and three adult coyotes living near the airport. He had been trying to discourage the pups from coming near people but workers at the parking lot started feeding the animals, he told the paper.
There has been an increase in coyote sightings around the borough in the past two years.
On March 30, 2015, one was spotted on the rooftop of a Long Island City bar. Police and animal control tried to capture it, but it escaped.
The following April, a coyote was caught in Middle Village. The 4-year-old female evaded capture the first day it was spotted, but was nabbed the following night in a local backyard.
Coyotes were also seen running around Manhattan — including the Upper West Side, Chelsea and most recently Battery Park, where one was trapped after briefly running loose in the Lower Manhattan neighborhood.
