A Tuesday night trip near the Westfield UTC mall in La Jolla turned frightening when a 3-year-old girl was bitten by a coyote and rushed to a hospital, according to authorities. The call to police came in just after 9 p.m., and officers arrived to find the child with visible bite wounds.
Police Response Near La Jolla Village Drive
San Diego police were dispatched to the 4500 block of La Jolla Village Drive at about 9:06 p.m., where they found the girl suffering from bites to her arm and hip, NBC 7 San Diego reported. SDPD Officer John Buttle told the outlet the child was transported to a hospital for evaluation.
Coyote Still Roaming As Officers Lock Down Area
Animal-control partners, including the San Diego Humane Society, were notified, and officers said a coyote was still being spotted in the area as late as 10 p.m., according to ABC 10News. Police remained on scene while animal-services personnel worked to secure the immediate area and keep people away from the active search zone.
Coyotes On The Urban Edge
State wildlife officials say coyotes are a regular presence along the edges of cities, including places that look and feel very suburban, but add that attacks on people are still rare. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Living With Wildlife guidance points residents to basics such as removing potential food sources, keeping small children and pets close, and using hazing techniques, like making loud noises and appearing large, to encourage coyotes to move along.
Advice For Locals After The Bite
Local guidance also stresses never feeding wildlife, securing trash and pet food, and leashing or carrying small dogs when coyotes have been reported nearby, according to the county's living-with-wildlife page. If someone is bitten, officials urge seeking medical attention right away and reporting the incident to local animal control and through the state wildlife reporting system.
The situation remained active late Tuesday, with police and animal-control agencies still at the scene and more information expected as the investigation continues. FOX 5 San Diego and other local outlets have been tracking developments.
