A 5-year-old girl was hospitalized after being bitten by a wild coyote while walking with her family in a California regional park yesterday afternoon, officials say.
East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) Police said the incident occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. in the Dublin Hills Regional Park, Alameda County. The child—who is not being named—was taken to Oakland Children's Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is believed to be in a stable condition.
The victim was left with a bite mark on her neck and a wound on her back but did not need surgery, EBRPD police lieutenant Gretchen Rose said yesterday, KPIX reported.
Authorities said a preliminary investigation found the girl's mother tried to move a pack of five or six coyotes from the family when one of the animals lashed out at her daughter.
Police confirmed the attack via social media and held a briefing yesterday with EBRPD Wildlife Program Manager Doug Bell and Department Fish and Wildlife Lt. Clint Garrett.
Bell said he had worked in the district since 2005 but had never known a coyote to bite a human. He said there was little to suggest their population was growing significantly in the region, despite speculation in the local community, KPIX reported.
On the investigation, Lt. Garrett added: "We may have some possible DNA of the animal so by us getting the animal, we will be able to link that and say, hey, this was the offending animal." A note on the regional park's website now states it will be inaccessible until further notice due to the attack.
"The park will remain closed as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and California Department of Fish and Wildlife work cooperatively with East Bay Regional Parks to locate the coyote," the park district's police department wrote on Facebook, sharing multiple images from the scene.
"Our thoughts are with the little girl and her family during this time. Officers will continue to work with our state and federal resource partners to resolve the situation," officials added.
The East Bay Regional Park District is urging all park visitors to maintain social distancing due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. A detailed list of closures is being maintained on its website.
Today a 5 Year old girl was bit by a coyote at Dublin Hills Regional Park. She was transported to Oakland Children’s Hospital, is receiving treatment , & is in stable condition. Ofc’s on scene are working with @CaliforniaDFW to resolve the situation. The park is currently closed. pic.twitter.com/ME8D4XAomz
— East Bay Regional Park District Police Department (@RegionalParksPD) April 2, 2020
Online, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife describes coyotes as being "smart adaptable canines that have learned to live comfortably alongside people in residential neighborhoods."
It elaborates in a fact-sheet: "Wildlife experts agree that people have played a part in this phenomenon by being careless with food and garbage. Coyotes play an important role in the ecosystem, helping to keep rodent populations under control. They are by nature fearful of humans.
"However, if coyotes are given access to human food and garbage, their behavior changes. They lose caution and fear. They may begin to harass domestic livestock and pets. They might threaten human safety. They might be killed. Relocating a problem coyote is not an option because it only moves the problem to another neighborhood."
The hunt for the coyote responsible for the attacking the 5-year-old girl is ongoing.
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