Coyote latches onto 9-year-old playing hide-and-seek, then chases, OR officials say
A child was playing hide-and-seek when a coyote latched onto their foot in Oregon, wildlife officials said.
The incident happened at about 6:15 p.m. Oct. 23 in the Alameda neighborhood in Portland, the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife said in an Oct. 29 news release.
Wildlife officials said two children, 9 and 3 years old, were playing a game in their yard when the animal grabbed the older child’s foot and didn’t let go.
The child was wearing a sock and had to shake it off to get away from the wild animal, officials said.
But the coyote chased after them until the child’s dad started yelling, which scared the animal off, officials said.
The child was taken to a hospital for minor injuries, wildlife officials said.
Department workers went to the area the next day to investigate and put up flyers. They also posted information about the coyote on social media to warn community members of the animal.
The area continues to be monitored, wildlife officials said.
What to know about coyotes
Coyotes can be found almost anywhere in North America, including in cities and neighborhoods, according to National Geographic.
“Adaptability—that’s the main reason for the success of the coyote. A coyote is naturally adaptable because it eats such a wide range of food,” National Geographic reported. “If it can’t find mice or voles to eat, lizards, insects, or even garbage will do.”
Here’s how experts say you can avoid conflicts with coyotes:
- Don’t feed coyotes: Feeding a coyote in a residential neighborhood can cause the animal to lose its fear of people.
- Don’t let pets run loose: If coyotes live nearby, don’t let pets out without a leash.
- Don’t run from a coyote: Instead, you should shout, wave your arms or throw something in its direction.
- Don’t haze or aggravate a calm coyote: If the animal is avoiding humans and pets, leave it alone.
- Report aggressive coyotes: If the coyote doesn’t show fear toward humans, let wildlife officials know.
This story was originally published October 30, 2025 at 1:45 PM with the headline "Coyote latches onto 9-year-old playing hide-and-seek, then chases, OR officials say."
