A coyote attack on a 4-year-old girl in Colorado Springs has sparked concern among residents and wildlife authorities.
The incident happened on Thanksgiving near Monument Creek and Interstate 25, close to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Officials are now working to prevent further encounters and ensure public safety.
Coyote Attack Shocks Colorado Springs Community
The young girl was seriously injured when a coyote lunged at her while she and another child were outside.
Mistaking the coyote for a dog, the children unknowingly approached it while it crouched behind a tree.
The animal attacked, grabbing the girl by the back of her head.
Thankfully, a quick response by a family member prevented the situation from becoming worse.
The girl’s relative scared off the coyote and rescued her from harm. She was hospitalized overnight but is now recovering.
This rare and alarming incident has left the community shaken.
CPW Takes Immediate Action to Address Threat
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has launched efforts to protect residents by removing any coyotes in the area of the attack.
Because identifying the specific coyote responsible is difficult, all captured coyotes will be tested for rabies and other health concerns.
The goal is to ensure the safety of the community.
Officials are investigating what may have drawn the animal into a residential neighborhood.
They are urging residents to stay alert and report aggressive or unusual wildlife behavior.
CPW has asked for public cooperation during this process to help prevent similar incidents.
Protecting Families from Wildlife Encounters
Wildlife authorities are emphasizing the importance of safety measures to reduce coyote interactions.
Residents are advised to secure trash cans and avoid leaving food outside, as these attract coyotes and other wild animals.
Coyotes are opportunistic and can lose their fear of humans if they find easy food sources.
Parents and pet owners should also take extra care in areas where wildlife is common.
Supervision of children and pets, along with tactics like yelling or throwing objects to scare away coyotes, can help minimize risks.
CPW continues to stress that keeping wildlife wild is key to ensuring everyone’s safety.
