A 10-year-old boy was injured when a coyote bit him while he was bicycling to school Tuesday morning, Oct. 22, police said.
The boy was riding a bike near Pathway in the vicinity of Portola Springs Elementary School when he stopped to take his jacket off, felt something on his lower leg and realized a coyote had bitten him, said Sgt. Karie Davies, a spokesperson with the Irvine Police Department.
Once he got to school, the boy reported the bite. He was treated by his primary care doctor for a minor skin break, Davies said.
The Police Department’s Animal Services Unit is working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to investigate the incident and find the coyote.
Because coyotes are native to the city, Irvine police encouraged residents to supervise pets when they’re outside, consider making their animals indoor pets if living in an area occupied by coyotes, using a non-retractable leash when walking dogs and cleaning up fruit that may have fallen from trees.
