Coyotes chase residents through the streets — then a child got bitten, Ohio police say

A pack of coyotes chased down Ohio residents at night, biting a child, police and family said.

Columbus residents reported seeing multiple coyotes pursue people near Southpoint Boulevard around dusk on Sept. 6, a spokesperson for the Columbus Police Department told McClatchy News.

One person was bitten near an apartment building, sustaining a leg injury, Andy Chow, a spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, told McClatchy News.

The victim, who was not identified by officials, was then transported to a nearby children’s hospital, Chow said.

When dispatched to the scene afterwards, a Division of Wildlife officer did not locate any coyotes, Chow said.

“Be careful if you live in south end of Columbus. ... My (3-year-old) daughter was attacked by a coyote this evening at the park in our apartments around 6 p.m.” Facebook user Mandi Nicole, a local resident, wrote in a post sharing photos of her daughter’s injury.

The animal tried dragging her daughter, the woman wrote, adding, “these things happen so so fast.”

What to do if you encounter a coyote

Coyotes are commonly found throughout Ohio, Chow said. If residents encounter them on their property, they should remove garbage before nightfall and keep small animals indoors.

“Clap your hands and shout in a stern voice to scare off coyotes that are investigating your yard,” Chow said.

If the animals can’t be scared off, residents should contact a nuisance trapper, Chow said. In rural parts of the state, they can be legally hunted.

There has only been one recorded case of a person being killed by a coyote in the United States, according to the Humane Society.

This story was originally published September 7, 2023 at 1:27 PM with the headline "Coyotes chase residents through the streets — then a child got bitten, Ohio police say."