San Francisco wildlife officers shot and killed three coyotes over the weekend after a 5-year-old girl was attacked by an animal in Golden Gate Park.
The inciting incident occurred Friday morning at the San Francisco Botanical Garden in the park while the girl was visiting with her day camp. She was treated for the bite at a hospital with stitches and a rabies vaccine, her mother Helen Sparrow told the San Francisco Chronicle.
The mom added her daughter was attacked while running away from the animal. It’s unclear why the girl was attacked, but she may have been near the animal’s den, according to SFGate.
She was expected to make a full recovery.
Two coyotes were killed Saturday and another one was killed Monday, said Patrick Foy, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Trappers from the United States Agriculture Department shot the animals.
Foy said officials would conduct a post-mortem rabies test and see if the DNA from the animals matches a sample taken from the girl’s bite wound.
The fauna flack said if the samples from the euthanized coyotes did not match the sample from the injury, the department might need to trap and kill more beasts.
The garden closed for three days after the attack but reopened Monday.
Foy said coyote bites are not uncommon, noting another five were reported in the state in June. Still, the attack in San Francisco is believed to be the first one in the city in a long time.
Deb Campbell, a spokesperson for SF Animal Care and Control, told SFGate injuries usually occur when a person is trying to keep a wild animal between them and their dog or other pet.
Coyotes usually stay away from humans but ones that have been fed by humans or gain access to food scraps or garbage can be less cautious and interactions can quickly become dangerous for both humans and the animal. Anyone who comes into contact with a coyote is advised to leave the area slowly while making loud noises and to bring any pets or food with them.
“They’re used to living amongst us, which is why it’s so important to not feed them or befriend them to help them retain their natural fear of humans,” Campbell said.