Colorado officials plan to kill all coyotes in area where one attacked 4-year-old girl
Wildlife officials are hunting coyotes in an area of southeast central Colorado after they say one attacked a 4-year-old girl on Thanksgiving Day.
The attack took place during the late afternoon hours in northern Colorado Springs in El Paso County, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced in a news release.
The neighborhood where the reported incident took place is east of Monument Creek and Interstate 25, not far from the United States Air Force Academy.
Witnesses told wildlife agents the girl was attacked when she and another child approached a coyote crouching behind a tree, thinking it was a dog.
"The coyote lunged at the girl, grabbing the back of her head, inflicting serious injuries that resulted in an overnight stay at a hospital," the agency wrote in the release.
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The agency reported it was alerted about the attack on Friday, after the girl was released from a hospital. CPW then it immediately began searching for the animal, the release continued.
“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,” said Tim Kroening, CPW’s Area Wildlife Manager for the Pikes Peak region.
“We don’t know yet what brought the coyote into the yard with this child,” Kroening said. “But it’s an important reminder to everyone to be alert and haze wild animals away from their homes and neighborhoods. That goes for deer, fox, bobcat, bears and other animals. Don’t let them get comfortable around people."
Wildlife officials plan to kill all coyotes in area of attack
Because it would be impossible to identify the exact coyote, CPW said the agency will kill each coyote it finds in the vicinity of where the attack occurred. The carcasses will be sent to a health lab to be examined for human DNA and tested for diseases including rabies.
The undomesticated relative of the dog, coyotes live across Colorado, "adapting well to urban areas where they find shelter and easy meals," the agency said. "Like most wildlife, coyotes are naturally afraid of humans but they can lose that fear and become bold and aggressive if they are protecting their young, being fed or are sick."
Wildlife agents on Monday continued to warn the public to be vigilant of their children and their pets while outdoors.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colorado officials hunting coyotes after girl attacked on Thanksgiving
