Coyote connected to attacks in Carson has been captured and euthanized

A coyote linked by DNA to attacks in Carson, including one this week involving a 4-year-old child in front of a home, has been captured and euthanized, according to wildlife officials.

The most recent attack was reported at about 9 a.m. Tuesday in the 400 block of Moorehaven Drive as the child’s family unloaded their vehicle. Fish and Wildlife Department personnel searched for the coyote and said Friday that it had been captured and humanely euthanized.

The agency said Thursday that DNA tests confirmed that the coyote who bit the young child Tuesday in Carson is the same coyote who attacked a young child Feb. 11 in the southern Los Angeles County community.

Authorities are investigating two additional attacks — one on Monday on a child in Carson and another on March 26 in nearby Gardena.

“It’s currently believed that the coyote responsible for the March 31 and February 11 attacks could be responsible for at least one of these additional reported attacks,” wildlife officials said in a statement. “The department has collected DNA samples from the victims of the March 26/March 30 attacks and has sent those off to the lab for testing.”

The March 26 Gardena attack involved a 31-year-old woman. The Monday attack on a young child was at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson.

The coyote is not the same one who bit a 6-year-old boy multiple times in August at Del Amo Park. The boy received 20 stitches to the back of his head, back and legs.

A brave boy received 20 stitches and is recovering after his mother rescued him from a coyote. Hetty Chang reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.

The sheriff’s department offered the following coyote safety reminders:

• Always supervise children outdoors
• Keep pets on a leash and close to you
• Avoid leaving food or trash accessible
• Secure yards and remove attractants
• Report aggressive wildlife immediately

The agency advised resident to call the Carson Sheriff’s Station at 310-830-1123 if they witness or are involved in an attack. For non-emergencies, such as coyote sightings, the agency advised people to call the California Department of Fish and Wildlife at 858-467-4257.

More coyote safety tips

• Never feed or attempt to tame coyotes. The result may be deadly conflicts with pets or livestock, or serious injuries to small children.
• Do not leave small children or pets outside unattended.
• Install motion-sensitive lighting around the house.
• Trim ground-level shrubbery to reduce hiding places.
• Be aware that coyotes are more active in the spring, when feeding and protecting their young.
• If followed by a coyote, make loud noises. If this fails, throw rocks in the animal’s direction.
• If a coyote attacks a person, immediately contact the nearest Department of Fish and Wildlife or law enforcement office.
• Put garbage in tightly closed containers that cannot be tipped over.
• Remove sources of water, especially in dry climates.
• Bring pets in at night, and do not leave pet food outside.
• Avoid using bird feeders as they attract rodents and other coyote prey.
• Provide secure enclosures for rabbits, poultry and other livestock.
• Pick up fallen fruit and cover compost piles.
• Ask your neighbors to follow these tips.