Viewed by some as cute wild animals and others as malicious killers, coyotes have become a political problem in Southern California, reported Donna Littlejohn in the Daily Breeze.

The reporter spoke with Robert Timm, UC Cooperative Extension wildlife specialist emeritus and a coyote expert. 

"We all have a soft spot in our hearts for wildlife, it's why many of us went into the field," Timm said. However, left unchecked, coyotes kill pet cats and dogs, and even pose a threat to humans. "It's a very...