A 9-year-old child was attacked by a coyote while playing a game of hide-and-seek in Alameda, Oregon, according to authorities. The incident occurred when the youngster, along with a 3-year-old, was playing in their yard. A coyote approached and snagged a sock off the older child before biting the child’s foot last week, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Department (ODFW) said in a press release.
The coyote then chased the 9-year-old until the child’s father, who was on the front porch, yelled at the animal and scared it away, authorities added. The child was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The current condition of the child has not been immediately disclosed.
A day after the attack, officials visited the scene to investigate and distributed flyers around the neighborhood. The flyers warned residents about the recent “concerning incident with a coyote,” the wildlife department stated.
The ODFW will continue monitoring the area for any signs of the coyote and is coordinating with federal officials to determine the next steps in addressing the human safety situation.
Coyotes are medium-sized mammals with pointed muzzles and long, bushy tails. They are commonly found throughout Oregon, in urban, suburban, rural, and natural landscapes. Officials warn that feeding coyotes can provoke attacks and aggressive behavior.
Dave Keiter, a district wildlife biologist for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, told KATU that the attack was a “very unusual incident.” He emphasized that “the vast majority of encounters with coyotes are entirely benign.”
Residents of Alameda have been strongly encouraged to supervise young children playing outside and to scare away coyotes by yelling, using airhorns, or creating other loud noises to keep the animals at bay.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/31/us-news/coyote-attacks-chases-9-year-old-child-playing-hide-and-seek-in-oregon/