Residents living in a Port Coquitlam neighbourhood where a coyote was shot after attacking a child earlier this week said they are upset that officials did not do something about the animal sooner.

Ann Holman, whose granddaughter attends an elementary school near where the animal was put down, said she complained to the city and conservation officials several times.

"I went to great lengths to phone and complain and they did nothing," she said. "I said: 'you can tell with this animal that something bad is going to happen.'"

On Monday the coyote attacked a two-year-old girl near Central elementary, biting her on the neck and her ear. Parents were able to scare the animal off and it was later shot by conservation officials.

The coyote is believed to be the same animal that lunged at another two-year-old a week earlier near Mary Hill elementary. Parents described the animal as distinctive because it appeared to have mange and was missing much of its hair.

Conservation officials said home-cooked table scraps like chicken and mashed potatoes were found in the animal's stomach.

Kim Stack, the Parent Advisory Council president for Mary Hill elementary, said she was also disappointed with the way the coyote was handled.

"This is not surprising," she said. "It is unfortunate something wasn't done weeks ago."

Parents and residents reported on the coyote for months but were told that nothing could be done, Stack said.

"I asked them: 'at what point does this become a serious threat?'" she said. "I said 'is it when it finally does bite somebody' and that appears to be what happened."

Stack added that with so many incidents involving wildlife there should be more conservation officers to call.

Coyotes are considered to be extremely opportunistic animals and wildlife officials say it is important not to feed the animals or allow them to become habituated to populate areas.

Phil Dubrulle, the co-ordinator with the Co-Existing With Coyotes program with the Stanley Park Ecology Society, said shaking noise makers and making the animal feel unwelcome will ensure it does not return.

"Be big, be mean and be loud," he said in an interview with the Tri-City News last week. "The perceptions are out there that the coyotes will attack people... Their nature is to be afraid of people. As long as their is room for them to go, they will go away."

For more information about coyotes and their habits go to www.stanleyparkecology.ca and follow the links.

gmckenna@tricitynews.com