9-year-old attacked by coyote while playing hide-and-seek in the yard

(TMX/KPTV) - Wildlife officials in Oregon are warning residents to keep a close eye on children playing outside after a boy was attacked by a coyote last week.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said it received a report on Friday, Oct. 24, of a coyote encounter involving children in the Alameda neighborhood of Portland that took place the evening before. At around 6:15 p.m. Thursday, two children, ages 9 and 3, were playing hide-and-seek in their yard when they were approached by a coyote.

The coyote “grabbed” the 9-year-old’s foot, but the child was only wearing socks and was able to shake free of the sock and run away. The coyote continued chasing the child until the father on the front porch began yelling and scared the animal off. The child was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries, officials said.

Wildlife staff responded to the area the following day to investigate, and continued to “monitor the area” for several days, but did not find or capture a coyote.

“It seems like there may be a chance that coyotes in this particular area have gotten a little too comfortable around humans, and oftentimes that’s linked to feeding, either intentional or unintentional,” said Dave Keiter, district wildlife biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Officials posted flyers in the neighborhood and on social media to warn residents about the “concerning” coyote encounter.

“ODFW is working closely with the City of Portland and other local, state, and federal government agencies to determine next steps for addressing the human safety situation. The agency is also consulting with local conservation organizations,” the agency said.

In the meantime, residents of the Alameda neighborhood are “strongly encouraged” to monitor children playing outside, “especially toddlers.” Residents should scare away coyotes by yelling or using airhorns, banging pots, or even throwing objects, officials said. Residents should also remove food attractants, including trash.

“Under no circumstances should people provide food to coyotes or other predators,” the agency said. “It is illegal to feed coyotes under ORS 496.731 and research indicates that feeding by humans is frequently associated with attacks and aggressive behavior.”

Data from the Portland Coyote Project suggests there is often an increase in coyote sightings during fall and winter. Experts say that may be because of reduced tree cover and because young coyotes begin venturing out on their own during this time.

Despite the recent scare, Keiter said such incidents are rare.

“Your average coyote in Oregon weighs about 30 pounds. They’re really not big animals, and for the most part, they tend to be afraid of humans,” Keiter said. “We get hundreds of calls about coyotes every year, and the vast majority of interactions are benign.”

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