CARSON (CNS) – A coyote that twice bit a 4-year-old child in a frightening attack caught on video while he and family members were unloading groceries from a vehicle in Carson has been euthanized, state wildlife officials confirmed Friday.
Deputies were notified by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife about the attack, which occurred at approximately 8:50 a.m. on Tuesday in the 400 block of Moorehaven Drive, according to the Carson Sheriff’s Station.
Sheriff’s officials said the child sustained minor injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. The boy received the initial rabies inoculation and antibiotics, according to one report. Rabies vaccines require multiple injections over a two-week period.
Home security video showed a small coyote pouncing on the downed child before running off.
DNA testing confirmed that the same coyote had been involved in a previous attack on a child in Carson around 4 p.m. on February 11, according to the CDFW, which attempted to locate the coyote following the earlier attack.
Searches for the coyote led to the animal being captured and killed on Thursday, California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed to City News Service.
“CDFW did capture and humanely euthanize the coyote that DNA testing confirmed was responsible for the March 31 and February 11 attacks,” according to department spokesman Cort Klopping. “That occurred on April 2.”
Since the attack, others have come forward to report coyote encounters.
“On April 2, two additional coyote attacks were reported to CDFW and are being actively investigated,” Klopping said. “One attack was on a 31-year- old woman in the nearby community of Gardena on March 26. That victim has been contacted, and the department will be testing DNA samples from her. The other attack occurred on Monday, March 30 at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson at 6:30 p.m. In that incident, a coyote attacked a very young child. CDFW is investigating that report as well and has collected DNA samples from that victim to test.”
According to Klopping, it’s believed the coyote responsible for the March 31 and February 11 attacks could be responsible for at least one of the additional attacks.
“The department has collected DNA samples from the victims of the March 26/March 30 attacks and has sent those off to the lab for testing.”
Officials say food waste, unsecured trash cans and pet food left outside likely drew coyotes, which have no specific season in California, but are most active from January through March “as that’s their mating season,” and tend to be active at dawn dusk, ranging between four and 15 miles.
Sheriff’s officials and the CDFW reminded the public to:
— Always supervise children outdoors;
— Keep pets on a leash and within close proximity;
— Avoid leaving food or trash accessible;
— Secure yards and remove potential attractants;
—When encountering a coytoe, keep a safe distance, back away slowly, maintain eye contact and don’t run, which could trigger a coyote’s chase instinct. Also make loud noise-yell, clap, blow a whistle and make yourself look bigger by staying upright and waving your arms.
–Let the coyote leave the immediate area on its own and if it makes contact, fight back.
–Report aggressive wildlife immediately.
Anyone with information regarding these attack, or who witnesses aggressive wildlife, is urged to call the Carson Sheriff’s Station at 310-830- 1123. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife can be reached at 858-467- 4257.
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