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Child Bitten by Coyote During Hide-and-Seek Game in Portland
31 Oct
Summary
- 9-year-old child bitten by coyote while playing hide-and-seek
- Incident occurred in Portland's Alameda neighborhood
- Wildlife officials urge parents to supervise children and scare off coyotes
On October 27th, 2025, a 9-year-old child was attacked by a coyote while playing hide-and-seek with a 3-year-old sibling in Portland's Alameda neighborhood. The incident occurred around 6:15 PM, when the coyote approached the older child and grabbed their foot. The child, wearing socks but no shoes, was able to break free and run, with the coyote briefly giving chase before the child's father shouted from the porch, causing the animal to flee.
The 9-year-old was taken to a local hospital and treated for minor injuries. In response, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) immediately launched an investigation, canvassed the area, and posted flyers warning residents. Officials have continued monitoring the situation and working with city, state, and federal partners to determine next steps.
ODFW is urging parents to closely supervise young children when playing outdoors, keep pets leashed or indoors, remove potential food attractants, and use loud noises or thrown objects to scare away bold coyotes. The agency stressed that under no circumstances should people feed coyotes or other predators, as this can lead to more aggressive behavior towards humans and pets.
