A frightening encounter in Haverhill, Massachusetts, left a local man injured after he stepped in when a coyote approached a 2-year-old child Friday evening.
The incident happened in the area of Broadway and Forest Street as neighbors were preparing for a child’s birthday gathering. The coyote reportedly focused its attention on the toddler before moving toward the adults nearby.
The child’s mother, Katie Murphy, said her daughter Remi was only feet away from the animal. To the young girl, the animal initially looked like a dog. Her neighbor, Julio Delgado, quickly intervened when the situation became threatening.
Delgado moved to draw the coyote’s attention away from the child. The animal then went after him, leaving him with injuries. Family members said he was treated at a hospital and began precautionary rabies treatment, along with other medical care.
Another neighbor and the child’s father also rushed to help. Murphy said her husband grabbed a folding chair in an effort to keep the animal away and calm the situation while others moved the child to safety.
Remi was brought inside and was not seriously injured.
Coyote Had Been Acting Unusually Before the Attack
The encounter was preceded by another unusual sighting in the neighborhood.
Video recorded several hours before the confrontation showed a coyote biting and attacking objects in a backyard, including a chair and a child’s basketball hoop. Wildlife officials said this type of behavior can be associated with an animal suffering from rabies.
Massachusetts wildlife biologist Dave Wattles said the behavior displayed by the Haverhill animal was highly concerning and consistent with what can be seen in rabid wildlife. He also noted that coyote attacks on people are uncommon.
State wildlife officials estimate that Massachusetts has roughly 10,000 to 12,000 coyotes, but they say the population has remained relatively stable rather than continually increasing.
Coyote Survived Multiple Vehicle Strikes
The situation became even more unusual after the initial confrontation.
Police said the coyote appeared to be down after the encounter, leading people nearby to believe it had died. The animal later got back up and ran away.
It was subsequently struck by a vehicle and continued moving. Police said it was hit by another vehicle as well before eventually disappearing into a wooded area near Broadway.
Haverhill police deployed a drone to search for the animal but were unable to locate it.
Authorities believe the coyote may have died from its injuries, but they have not been able to confirm that. Because its exact whereabouts remain unknown, residents have been urged to remain cautious, particularly when children and pets are outside.
Residents Urged to Stay Alert
The incident has changed how some families in the neighborhood are approaching outdoor activities.
Murphy said the family is being more careful about allowing children outside while the animal’s status remains uncertain. Other residents have also been reminded to pay attention to their surroundings and avoid approaching wildlife that appears unusually aggressive or unafraid of people.
Wildlife officials say that if a coyote enters a yard or comes too close, people should make themselves appear threatening by making loud noises and attempting to drive the animal away rather than approaching it calmly.
For the families involved, the most important outcome was that the toddler made it through the encounter safely.
What began as a frightening moment near a neighborhood gathering could have ended much differently. Instead, a quick response from nearby adults helped get the child away from the animal, while Delgado’s intervention put him directly in harm’s way.
