Coyote Chases Toddler in Pasadena Incident
Alarming surveillance footage has emerged showing a young boy, just three years old, fleeing from a large coyote that pursued him through the front gate of his family’s home in Pasadena.
The unsettling video, shared on Monday, captured the boy running and crying out for his mother while the coyote followed him into the driveway on Tamarack Drive.
Fortunately, the toddler managed to escape without injury, but his family was left rattled by the experience.
The boy’s mother, Ida Sveldt, recounted the event, stating, “The little one ran out the gate as usual, then I heard his scream, and he came sprinting back.” She added, “He clung to my leg, and I screamed when I saw that big coyote.”
His father, Leonard Bessemer, expressed his shock as well. “She texted me saying, ‘A coyote chased our son,’ and I just couldn’t believe it. After checking the camera, I was in disbelief,” he said.
While coyotes are a common sight in Southern California, incidents involving attacks on people are quite rare. Wildlife specialists note that coyotes tend to be particularly active at this time of year.
Kevin McManus from Pasadena Humane commented, “They’re out all day because it’s mating season. We’ve noticed an uptick in sightings recently. So, it’s crucial to keep a close watch on your children and pets.”
The child’s parents were aware of coyotes in the area but had never come so close to one before. “I wasn’t nervous then, but now I am,” Sveldt shared. “This one was larger and frightening, and I never thought it would go after a child. Seeing them chase smaller animals is one thing, but this situation felt much more serious.”
Last year, several incidents involving coyotes and children were reported across Southern California, including an attack in San Diego that resulted in a 3-year-old girl being hospitalized. Additionally, a 6-year-old boy was attacked during a softball game in the Los Angeles region.
Coyotes are known to target pets, especially smaller dogs that they perceive as easy prey.
