A young girl in Bellevue was attacked by a coyote while she was about to pet a dog. Within seconds, the coyote bit her hand and attempted to drag her. She was pulled to the ground before her father, Tong, reacted quickly by yelling at the animal. His actions successfully scared the coyote away. He then took his daughter to the emergency room, where she was treated for minor injuries on her palm and received a rabies shot as a precaution.
Following the incident, Tong stated that he plans to keep his gate closed and educate his young children about coyotes. He also mentioned the possibility of keeping a weapon, such as a stake or knife, nearby for protection. He emphasized the importance of neighbors being able to distinguish a coyote from a dog to avoid confusion in such situations.
This attack was the latest in a series of coyote encounters in Bellevue. Earlier that same day, a coyote approached a group of children waiting at a bus stop in Factoria. It attempted to bite them and managed to tear some of their clothing before running off.
The week prior, two adults were bitten in separate incidents. In Factoria, a man was attacked by a coyote in his open garage, suffering a bite on his leg. Another attack occurred in Norwood Village, where a woman sitting on her patio was also bitten on her leg.
According to Sergeant Carlo Pace from Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, the behavior of these coyotes has become increasingly aggressive. Reports indicate that they have approached people’s front porches and even entered garages, where some of the attacks have occurred. Wildlife officials have taken action by killing one coyote believed to be responsible for some of the incidents. However, they are still searching for at least one more.
Authorities continue to urge residents to remain cautious and take preventive measures, such as securing their properties, avoiding direct interactions with coyotes, and immediately reporting any sightings or aggressive behavior to wildlife officials.
