Colorado officials are hunting a coyote that attacked and injured a 4-year-old girl

DENVER — Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers are hunting a coyote that attacked a 4-year-old girl on Thanksgiving after she mistook it for a dog crouching behind a tree, the agency announced this weekend.

The girl and another child were approaching the coyote in northern Colorado Springs, about an hour’s drive south of Denver, when the animal lunged, grabbing the back of her head and causing serious injuries that led to a night in the hospital, said CPW in a press release Saturday.

The girl’s father jumped in to stop the attack and scare off the coyote, Tim Kroening, a CPW wildlife manager, said in a statement. “This could have been much worse,” Kroening said.

Officials were alerted on Friday, after the girl was released from hospital, and began organizing their search. CPW said it plans to kill any coyote they encounter near the attack because it is impossible to identify the exact animal. The carcasses are then examined for human DNA and diseases such as rabies.

Coyotes have adapted to urban areas and found shelter and easy meals, but are naturally afraid of humans. The predators, which typically eat small animals, berries and leftovers, become aggressive when protecting their young, when they are sick or being fed.

“People in the neighborhood may leave pet food outside or actively feed them by throwing leftovers at them. That is illegal and a problem in urban areas,” says Kroening, adding that it is an important reminder for people to be alert and scare away wildlife by throwing rocks or shouting.

“Don’t let them get comfortable around people,” Kroening said.

Officials said the search could last several days.

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Jesse Bedayn is a staff member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.