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Coyote attacked girl without warning: mom By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF An Oakville mother said her eightyear-old daughter didn't even realize a coyote was near her until it bit her leg. Jenny Couto, who lives on Cannonridge Circle, said her daughter Julia, 8, had been playing in a neighbour's backyard with her friend Sydney, 7, Thursday afternoon after school, when a coyote approached from the ravine area behind the home and jumped the fence into the yard. "Julia was lying on the ground, she was making snow angels and the other girl was making a fort," said Jenny. "The coyote jumped the fence, came and bit her (Julia) on the leg. The girls didn't see it until the bite had happened. She said it felt like a really hard slap. That's how she described it." After the bite, the girls screamed and ran to the house. The coyote pursued them up the stairs of the home's deck and onto the deck itself. The homeowner, Derek Quinlan, said once the girls were inside, the coyote could be seen peering into the home through the patio door. Quinlan called Halton police who arrived on the scene moments later with representatives from Oakville Animal Control and the Ministry of Natural Resources. Police located a coyote in the nearby area and the animal was shot and killed. Jenny was at work when a call came informing her Julia had been bitten. "I was just shocked. I dropped everything I was doing and ran home," she said. "When I arrived at my neighbour's house, I was glad to see (my daughter) was shaken, but in good spirits." Police said Julia's injuries were not serious. Jenny said her daughter was wearing snow pants when she was attacked and while the snow pants had no tear marks in them the encounter did leave Julia with four teeth marks on her leg, three of which had broken skin. While the wounds may have resulted from the pressure of the coyote's bite and not its teeth, the Public Health Department is still recom- 5 · Wednesday, January 25, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com CHANTAL AYOTTE / OAKVILLE BEAVER neighbour's backyard on Canonridge Circle with her friend Sydney Quinlan, 7, (left) Jan. 19 when a coyote jumped the fence and bit Julia on her right leg. mending a series of rabies shots for rogue coyote that was getting a little Julia just to be on the safe side. brazen," she said. Jenny said it is unfortunate the "It was very unusual that it kept coyote had to be killed, but feels there coming up to people. I wouldn't want were few alternatives. any other coyotes to be injured, but I "I've been in West Oak Trails for 12 think that one posed a threat." years and seen them and never been While this was the first attack on a concerned with them, but lately it's human, northwest Oakville has seen a been in the press, I think we had a series of coyote attacks on dogs in GIRL WAS BITTEN: Eight-year-old Julia Couto (right) was playing in her recent weeks. Two weeks ago a coyote killed a Saddler Circle woman's small dog after the dog went missing from its yard. On Jan. 11, a second dog was attacked while being walked by its owner north of Upper Middle Road, near Grand Oak Trail. On Jan. 16, another dog was attacked as it walked with its owner along a ravine in West Oak Trails Park. While all attacks happened in the same general area it is impossible to say if one coyote was responsible. Halton police Public Affairs Officer Dave Cross said police were confident the animal that was killed was the one that attacked Julia. As more than one set of coyote tracks were seen in the area, police are advising residents to continue to be vigilant around wooded areas. The Town of Oakville will host a coyote information forum Tuesday, Jan. 31 from 7-9 p.m. at St. Volodymyr Cultural Centre, 1280 Dundas St. W. For information on the Town of Oakville's wildlife initiatives and safety tips regarding coyotes, visit www. oakville.ca. Modeling & Acting Opportunities Don't miss out! Find out how to get into flyers, SUNDAY, JANUARY 29 catalogues, TV commercials, movies, Quality Suites sitcoms & print ads at our event! 754 Bronte Rd. Oakville Come anytime 1PM-3:30PM Since 1992 Looking for 4yrs+, all ethnicities, genders and shapes! We are one of Canada's Top Model and Talent Agencies FREE to attend! 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