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August 6, 2003
Coyote attack victim recovers
Three-year-old boy undergoing rabies treatments at hospital
By MIKE CRUZ/ Victorville Daily Press S
APPLE VALLEY — A toddler attacked by a coyote at Jess Ranch Golf Course suffered 16 puncture wounds to his face and neck and may require reconstructive surgery, officials said Tuesday.
The 3-year-old boy is in good spirits and playing video games in the hospital room with his father at his bedside.
But he is now undergoing rabies treatments, which require a series of shots over three weeks, hospital officials told the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
"The (condition of the) child is not critical," said Trish Hill, spokesperson for the Sheriff's Department. The child suffered facial lacerations to his jaw, face, neck and back.
The boy was with his father Monday afternoon at the golf course in Apple Valley when the coyote suddenly attacked and tried to drag the child off.
The coyote has not been captured, but Department of Fish and Game personnel are tracking it and hope to catch it soon, said Assistant Chief Mike McBride of the state Fish and Game office in Chino.
The coyote was last seen limping as it was chased by a sheriff's department helicopter through the desert. The boy's father swung his golf club at the coyote several times, and an off-duty deputy reportedly shot at the animal.
"The bottom line is we live in an area with wildlife. We have predators out there," McBride said. "If you have small children, and you live in a coyote area, then you have to be cognizant of that."
Fish and Game officials reported no other recent occurrences of coyote attacks on people in the Apple Valley area, McBride said.
Apple Valley resident John Mann lives off Tussing Ranch Road, and he often sees coyotes when looking down on the alfalfa fields.
"I've seen coyotes out there pretty much every day," he said. "I've never seen them attack anybody."
Mann planned to walk in the area and see whether he could spot the location of the coyotes' den, he said.
"This is not a common occurrence for a coyote to attack like that," Hill said. But "if the public sees the coyote, don't try to go up to it," she warns.
Calls about the coyote can be relayed to the sheriff's station in Apple Valley at 240-7400.
Mike Cruz can be reached at mike_cruz@link.freedom.com or 951-6276.
Coyote attack victim recovers
Three-year-old boy undergoing rabies treatments at hospital
By MIKE CRUZ/ Victorville Daily Press S
APPLE VALLEY — A toddler attacked by a coyote at Jess Ranch Golf Course suffered 16 puncture wounds to his face and neck and may require reconstructive surgery, officials said Tuesday.
The 3-year-old boy is in good spirits and playing video games in the hospital room with his father at his bedside.
But he is now undergoing rabies treatments, which require a series of shots over three weeks, hospital officials told the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
"The (condition of the) child is not critical," said Trish Hill, spokesperson for the Sheriff's Department. The child suffered facial lacerations to his jaw, face, neck and back.
The boy was with his father Monday afternoon at the golf course in Apple Valley when the coyote suddenly attacked and tried to drag the child off.
The coyote has not been captured, but Department of Fish and Game personnel are tracking it and hope to catch it soon, said Assistant Chief Mike McBride of the state Fish and Game office in Chino.
The coyote was last seen limping as it was chased by a sheriff's department helicopter through the desert. The boy's father swung his golf club at the coyote several times, and an off-duty deputy reportedly shot at the animal.
"The bottom line is we live in an area with wildlife. We have predators out there," McBride said. "If you have small children, and you live in a coyote area, then you have to be cognizant of that."
Fish and Game officials reported no other recent occurrences of coyote attacks on people in the Apple Valley area, McBride said.
Apple Valley resident John Mann lives off Tussing Ranch Road, and he often sees coyotes when looking down on the alfalfa fields.
"I've seen coyotes out there pretty much every day," he said. "I've never seen them attack anybody."
Mann planned to walk in the area and see whether he could spot the location of the coyotes' den, he said.
"This is not a common occurrence for a coyote to attack like that," Hill said. But "if the public sees the coyote, don't try to go up to it," she warns.
Calls about the coyote can be relayed to the sheriff's station in Apple Valley at 240-7400.
Mike Cruz can be reached at mike_cruz@link.freedom.com or 951-6276.
