Alright, folks, let’s talk about a scene straight out of a nature documentary—except this one happened in the middle of an upscale Seattle suburb. A four-year-old girl was nearly dragged away by a coyote right on the doorstep of her family’s $2.3 million home. Yeah, you read that right. A wild coyote. In the suburbs.
Chang Tong was standing just inside the house when his daughter, Lena, stepped outside, only to come face-to-face with what she thought was a friendly neighborhood dog.
But in a split second, that “dog” turned into a nightmare, sinking its teeth into her little hand and pulling her toward the ground. Tong immediately sprang into action, screaming at the animal until it let go and scurried away.
Lena was rushed to the ER, where she was treated for minor injuries and given a rabies shot. And now? Her dad says he’s keeping the front gate locked and maybe even keeping a “stake or a knife” nearby—because in Bellevue, apparently, you’re not just watching out for porch pirates anymore.
Now, here’s where it gets even crazier. This wasn’t a one-off incident. That same day, a coyote tried to bite kids waiting for a school bus, and just days earlier, another one stole a student’s backpack. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, two adults were bitten in separate attacks last week. Bellevue is suddenly looking like a set for “Jaws”, except the shark’s got fur and is roaming the streets.
Washington wildlife officials are on high alert, already taking down one coyote and searching for another. But here’s the real question: why are these animals getting so bold?
Experts say it could be due to easy access to food—whether intentional or not. When wild animals stop fearing humans, you end up with situations like this: four-year-olds being pulled toward the wild while their parents watch in horror.
And if you think it’s just Bellevue dealing with rogue coyotes, think again. Over in San Francisco, two of them recently decided to take a little joyride through the subway tunnels, leading transit workers on a mile-long chase through the underground.
They eventually left on their own, but not before giving employees a serious Monday-morning headache.
Bottom line? Coyotes aren’t just prowling the woods anymore. They’re moving into the city, getting braver, and in some cases, outright dangerous. It’s a wild world out there, folks—stay aware, and maybe keep that front gate closed.
