Fifth Person Attacked by California Coyote Says It Is 'Terrorizing' People
A California man said he "didn't see it coming" when a coyote bit him on the leg in Lafayette on February 18.
Five people including two young children have been attacked by a coyote in the same general area of California since last summer, with two incidents reported this month, according to local police and news reports.
The five attacks have all taken place in and around the regions of Lafayette and Moraga, according to The Mercury News.
In the most recent incident, 20-year-old John Stevenson was bitten on the leg in Lafayette while he was sat down outside of a Quik Stop. The coyote then let go after Stevenson stood up, NBC Bay Area reported. As a result he has had to take tetanus and rabies shots. Footage taken after the incident showed four puncture wounds on either side of Stevenson's leg.
He told NBC Bay Area: "I didn't even see it coming. It was very sneaky, very quiet. It just came up, locked its jaws onto my thigh." Stevenson, who described the animal as "terrorizing" managed to get a video of the coyote walking away from the scene.
Lafeyette Police Department said: "DNA testing from the victim's clothing was completed and the results came back today as a match to the same coyote responsible for the other four biting incidents."
In addition, last Wednesday Lafayette Police Department issued an advisory notice after another incident that occurred on February 16, in which a toddler was bitten at Capolindo Drive and Calle la Montana in Moraga.
The police department said: "On February 16th At about 8:30 a.m., a parent was walking with her child when a coyote attacked and bit the child without warning. The parent was able to get the coyote to disengage and run away. It has been confirmed that this coyote is the one responsible for previous attacks in the Lamorinda area.
"Please remember that coyotes are wild animals and their behavior is unpredictable. Be aware of your surroundings when outdoors and, if you are followed by a coyote, make loud noises. If this fails, throw rocks in the animal's direction. Do not leave small children or pets unattended outside."
The Mercury News reports the same animal had made its first attack in the area in July 2020 when a 2-year-old boy was bitten at Moraga Commons Park.
Two further people were bitten in December that same year—one at Campolindo High School in Moraga and one near Diablo Foods in Lafayette.
The Humane Society states coyote attacks are preventable by modifying human behavior, and that incidents can be prompted by people feeding coyotes, if the coyote is cornered, or if it is rabid.
Patrick Foy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife told the publication the agency was searching for the animal with the aim of trapping and killing it.
