State Wildlife officials are being notified of another incident involving a coyote Tuesday morning – this time in Moraga.
Information released by Moraga police confirmed reports that a parent carrying her 3-year-old child while pushing another infant child in a stroller near the intersection of Calle la Montana and Campolindo Drive at about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday was startled by an unprovoked attack by a coyote upon the child in her arms.
The parent was able to get the coyote to disengage, Police Chief Jon King said, praising the woman for “fighting so hard” to get the animal off after attacking them from behind. King said the animal inflicted a bite wound to the child’s leg before running away. It was last seen running north on Calle la Montana, police reported.
The child has reportedly been taken to Children’s Hospital, Oakland for treatment of the bite wound and the incident has being reported to Animal Services.
Human/Coyote contacts are rare but have gained notoriety in the Lamorinda area after a series of incidents apparently involving a lone animal – with biting incidents reported in both Moraga and Lafayette.
King noted that Lamorinda is now the epicenter of fully half the reported coyote/human encounters in the state with 4 of 8 reported incidents.
It could not be immediately determined if the animal involved in this latest incident is the one believe responsible for other recent attacks.
Capt. Patrick Foy from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s law enforcement division said his agency is investigating what they believe is “highly likely to be the fourth coyote bite in a small (geographic) area.”
Officials are working with hospital staff and beginning an animal attack investigation, Foy said, seeking confirmation of the responsible animal’s involvement with possible with DNA evidence.
“So that is what we are working to obtain right now,” he said.
The effort to find the animal responsible for the recent attacks has been so intense, King said, that even coyotes killed by cars in the area are being swabbed for DNA testing.
The do-gooders were warned. No, no, protect wild hogs and coyotes. Hopefully the child us doing well.
Kills of both species you mention have been conducted, Bill, so the “Pelts on the barn door” approach doesn’t work, either. Hoping some additional info clarifies situation…
Kill the damn coyotes — now. And quit enabling the killers. You’re pathetic. Your kid could be next. I hope the child is okay.
For the record, we hope the child is okay, too… but we don’t see the “Pelts on the barn door” approach working, either. Didn’t work during granddad’s day, won’t work now. Unfortunately these scenarios require patience and time and, as we know, the public has little of either to spare.
I don’t know if you have kids, but my guess would be no. I don’t know one parent that doesn’t want these coyotes killed. They’re predators whether the “do-gooders” want to admit it or not. Human/coyote contacts are no longer rare in Lamorinda. What’s it going to take. The death of a child? I would think the chances of “getting the coyote to disengage” are not in your favor.
Hmm. We know it’s a “hot button” topic but we do know of and have heard from parents who are not supporting a widespread culling of the animals. Perhaps they’ll make themselves known here.
Huh? What happens when a toddler is maimed or killed? “Oh well, dudn’t work for Gramps?”
Simple solution: trap and relocate to the wild.
Please don’t dismiss or confuse our comments, or granddad’s. He killed his share of ‘Yotes in his day – came to the conclusion that culls do more damage than good – like carpet bombing. We’re believers in the “trap and relocate” approach, too, but know it takes time and patience and that the citizenry favors quick fixes to their problems.
A better solution would be for humans to stop repeatedly going to areas that coyotes are frequently seen.
This was a neighborhood of suburban tract homes and family members just out for a walk, apparently – but we are hearing from many others who no longer take their dogs or small children into parks where coyotes have been spotted.
“For humans to stop going to areas that coyotes are frequently seen.” Give me a break. Tell that to the man that was attacked at Campo on the football field. Do you really think a football field at Campolinda High in Moraga is for coyotes? Or a neighborhood of “suburban tract homes.” Get real.
Mmmm.. despite the recent attacks, getting bit by a coyote in Lamorinda is an unlikely event. Four(?) attacks across a human population of 30k+ hardly merits wiping the dogs out, as some have demanded.
That said, the Police and the Rangers may need to work a little harder, and catch, the likely, one animal that’s responsible. (Is responsible the right word when you are discussing a Coyote?)
Get yer skates on, lads!
Getting hit by a drunk driver is an “unlikely event” too. No one I’ve ever met has been hit by one, yet we want to get rid of drunk drivers too. They haven’t caught the rogue coyote yet, and he’ll keep on attacking while some keep on enabling.
The attacks all seem to be occurring in the same area. It makes me think it’s the same animal or family so I don’t understand why there is a call to arms to kill the coyotes. The focus should be on catching the problem coyote, they are a natural part of the environment and rarely cause any problems to people or pets, if we get rid of them the turkey and rodent problems will get worse.
Agreed…
I hope the child’s recovery goes well. Another day in idyllic Moraga, a community that has always held it’s open space near and dear,,,,,
We remember walking those bare hills back in the day!
I know my predators! I know my rodents, my wild turkeys, and turkey vultures. Can we talk about skunks?
Sure they’re cute. They waddle when they walk that confident walk to the creek. Underneath your house. Where-ever the hell they please, because whatcha gonna do? And the neighbor’s dog. He is beside himself. Insulted. Humiliated. Cone of shame level depression. And, there he goes again. GEEZUS! What’s that smell!! The problem is the dog. It has to go.
Everyone else recognizes the skunk.
Had one living under the deck. Never had a problem and the dog was smart enough to leave him alone. Waddled off one night and we think a car got him.
Yeah, they’re not so good at yielding.
I do sincerely hope they get this one bad actor!! He is NOT the one you can safely relocate elsewhere imo. It seems to be happening in a very small area near Campo. He’ll be back.
Very unusual wildlife case with Moraga/Lafayette at the epicenter. May have to start walking with our hiking sticks again.
According to the “experts” you kill the “bad actor.” Relocating doesn’t make any sense. Unless you want to see this happening elsewhere.
Hope the child is okay.
Thanks for the heads up this morning.
Certainly!
So scary. We do see them regularly and we keep our eyes on them when we do. Prayers for the little girl.
Afraid they have gotten too used to us. I read that someone was seen feeding one in Rheem. And that’s just plain insane.