Amid the festivities of Thanksgiving, a moment of alarm disrupted the tranquility of a northern Colorado Springs neighborhood. A 4-year-old girl fell victim to a coyote attack that has since prompted a determined response from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officers. The incident, which has been reported to have occurred east of Monument Creek and not far from the Air Force Academy, has driven authorities to aggressively pursue any coyotes in the area to ensure safety.

According to 9NEWS, witnesses describe a chilling scene where the young girl, under the mistaken belief that she was approaching a dog, was met with a violent reaction from a hidden coyote. As detailed by Denver7, the attack only ceased when the girl's uncle intervened to rescue his niece. The girl sustained serious injuries requiring an overnight hospital stay but was fortunate to escape with her life.

Tim Kroening, CPW's Area Wildlife Manager for the Pikes Peak region, conveyed the severity of the situation, saying, “This could have been much worse – a tragedy – if not for the quick action of the child’s father to stop the attack, rescue his daughter and scare the coyote off,” as obtained by both CPW and reiterated by 9NEWS. CPW was made aware of the attack the day after it occurred and has been organizing search efforts ever since.

With the challenging task at hand to identify the specific animal responsible for the attack, CPW has resolved to lethally remove and test any coyotes found in the vicinity for human DNA and diseases such as rabies. This measure, while drastic, speaks to the perceived necessity to mitigate further risks. Kroening further elaborated that aggressive behavior in coyotes could stem from several factors, including protection of the young, sickness, or habituation due to human behaviors like feeding.