DNA from a coyote that bit a lady on Southern California's Huntington Seashore final week matched samples from considered one of two coyotes shot and killed following the assault, authorities mentioned Monday. The 2-year-old little one was hospitalized with bites to her head and face that weren't thought of life-threatening after she was attacked close to the Huntington Seashore Pier final Thursday night time.
Huntington Seashore police responded and shot two coyotes discovered within the coastal space south of Los Angeles, police Lt. Shawn Randell mentioned.
Samples taken from the woman's wounds have been used to verify that the animal that bit her had been killed, California Division of Fish and Wildlife Capt. Patrick Foy mentioned.
The woman was together with her mom on the sand when she wandered "a mere few ft" and was attacked, Foy mentioned final week.
The coyote got here out of the darkish, hit and knocked over the woman and attacked her for 12 seconds earlier than her cry alerted adults and the animal ran off, Foy mentioned.
Nevertheless, it stayed round, pacing, earlier than lastly fleeing, Foy mentioned.
"There's nothing let's imagine that might put them at fault," Foy mentioned of the woman's household. "They didn't antagonize the coyote. The coyote got here out of nowhere and snuck up on this little woman."
"There was, like, a coyote proper round right here, we noticed it, after which all the sudden it went in by this, like, household," witness Garie Joncon advised CBS Los Angeles. "And there was, like, a child on the bottom. After which, like 5 minutes later, we walked again, complete crowd round a child. Child evidently obtained, like, bit, and there was simply blood throughout its face."
Coyotes are discovered nearly all over the place in California, together with cities, and authorities have lengthy warned that young children and pets will be in danger. Final 12 months, the state Division of Fish and Wildlife started workshops to assist communities take care of coyotes due to a rise within the quantity conflicts with folks.
Foy mentioned coyotes often are shy and attempt to keep away from people. He estimated there are solely about 10 to 12 assaults per 12 months across the state, largely involving smaller kids however full-grown adults have been attacked in a couple of instances.
Final 12 months, CBS Los Angeles reported that a pack of 12 coyotes attacked a lady and her canine in Woodland Hills, California.