A frightening coyote attack at a popular San Diego shopping centre has left two young children with serious injuries, sending shockwaves through the local community.
Details of the Mall Attack
The incident occurred on November 25 around 9pm near the Crate & Barrel store at the Westfield UTC Mall. According to NBC San Diego, a three-year-old girl was one of the victims, suffering bites to her arm and hip that required immediate hospital treatment.
The unidentified toddler received care at Rady Children's Hospital and was fortunately discharged shortly after. Details regarding the second child's condition and specific injuries remain unknown. First responders rushed to the scene, but the aggressive coyote had already vanished by the time paramedics arrived.
Investigation and Expert Theories
The California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) has launched a full investigation into the alarming event. Officials have collected DNA samples and sent them to a forensics laboratory. The CDFW is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Service in hopes of tracking down and capturing the animal responsible.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor Angela Hernandez-Cusick shared her professional assessment with ABC 10, suggesting the attack might have been triggered by prey motivation. "We can speculate that it could have been some sort of prey motivation that maybe was enacted if the child moved a certain way, or maybe the child approached an area that the coyote wasn't expecting," she explained.
Rarity of Attacks and Safety Advice
While such direct confrontations are considered very rare, the mall's proximity to canyons and green belts may have attracted young coyotes venturing away from their families. "Certainly, where there are a lot of people, there's going to be a lot of garbage," Hernandez-Cusick told 10 News, noting that most coyotes are naturally wary of humans.
The Humane Society for Animals emphasised that coyote attacks are preventable through modifying human behaviour and public education. They noted that in many incidents, the coyotes involved had become habituated to people after being fed by them.
Experts recommend using 'hazing' techniques if a coyote gets too close:
- Yelling and waving your arms
- Using noise makers
- Throwing objects (not to hit, but to scare)
The attack left mall visitors deeply unsettled, with one local resident expressing the community's surprise to reporters: "I mean, it's the mall. You don't think about if I'm going to come here at night, I have to be aware of animals."
