Surveillance video captures moment coyote confronts child

PORTLAND, Ore. – Surveillance video from a normally quiet neighborhood in the Portland metro area captured the moment a young child came face-to-face with a coyote outside his family’s home on Oct. 12.

Charlie Schmidt said he was working with his children in his backyard when the coyote suddenly appeared.

In the video, Schmidt’s daughter could be seen running to the porch with the four-legged omnivore right behind her.

The girl can be heard screaming, “Dad, there’s a coyote,” as she climbed onto a table to escape the animal.

Schmidt then ran toward his daughter as the coyote ran away from the backyard.

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Storyful, a social content collection company, reported that everyone, including Schmidt’s daughter, was fine after the sudden incident.

According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, coyote sightings are common throughout the state, including in residential areas like Portland.

The omnivores are generally in search of food, which includes rodents, fruit, pet food and occasionally outdoor cats.

It is unknown what caused the coyote to follow the girl. This could be due to several factors, including its health status or even changes in its habitat.

According to the Urban Coyote Research Project, the species is native to North America and its population is estimated to be in the millions.

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In 2010, the Portland Urban Coyote Project was launched to document the animals’ interactions with humans.

Since its inception, the project says it has received more than 8,000 reports of coyotes around the metro.

Although coyote attacks are extremely rare, the ODFW warns that they are still possible.

The agency encourages people who encounter an animal that poses an imminent threat to call 9-1-1.

If a coyote does not pose an immediate threat but is acting strangely, witnesses are asked to contact the nearest Fish and Wildlife Department.

Original source of the article: Surveillance video captures moment coyote confronts child