Updated ODFW statement on coyote incident in Portland
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Contact
Adam Baylor, adam.c.baylor@odfw.oregon.gov, (503) 930-7116
Beth Quillian, beth.s.quillian@odfw.oregon.gov, (503) 804-0841
Updated statement Friday, Nov. 7, 2025
SALEM, Ore. – A coyote was captured and humanely killed on Oct. 31 and confirmed to be the individual animal that bit a 9-year-old child in the Alameda neighborhood on Oct. 23. ODFW worked with partners at the city, state, and federal levels to capture the responsible animal. The coyote was captured less than one mile from the attack location.
ODFW district and wildlife veterinary staff coordinated with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Wildlife Forensics Lab to determine if coyote DNA collected from the victim's sock matched the genetic profile of the captured coyote. ODFW received information from CDFW on Nov. 5 that the DNA was a match, confirming the coyote captured on Oct. 31 was the animal responsible for the attack.
ODFW District Wildlife Biologist Dave Keiter said:
"We are grateful to our partners for their support and assistance in overcoming the challenges of animal capture in an urban area. ODFW strives to prevent situations from escalating to the point where lethal removal is necessary. We emphasize outreach and education about living with coyotes in urban areas. In this situation, lethal removal was required to restore public safety, and we are satisfied that the animal responsible for the attack was removed based on genetic evidence."
ODFW strongly encourages residents in the Alameda and surrounding neighborhoods to continue to follow guidance on living with coyotes, including scaring away bold coyotes and removing potential food sources to prevent issues like this in the future.
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SALEM, Ore. – On Friday morning, Oct. 24 Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) staff received a report of an incident involving a coyote and child in the Alameda neighborhood of Portland. At 6:15 p.m. Oct. 23 two children (ages 9 and 3) were playing hide-and-seek in their yard when a coyote approached the 9-year-old child and grabbed their foot. The child was only wearing socks and was able to shake their foot out of the sock and run away. The coyote chased after the child until the dad (who was on the front porch) started yelling and the coyote ran off. The child was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for minor injuries.
On Oct. 24, ODFW district wildlife staff responded to the area to conduct a site investigation. They also posted flyers in the neighborhood and shared a notice on social media to inform residents that a concerning incident with a coyote had recently occurred. Over the last several days ODFW staff have continued to monitor the area and talk to neighbors. ODFW is working closely with the City of Portland and other local, state, and federal government agencies to determine next steps for addressing the human safety situation. The agency is also consulting with local conservation organizations.
Residents in the Alameda neighborhood are strongly encouraged to monitor young children playing outside, especially toddlers, scare away coyotes (through yelling, airhorns, banging pots and pans, throwing objects) whenever possible, and immediately remove any attractants. Under no circumstances should people provide food to coyotes or other predators. It is illegal to feed coyotes under ORS 496.731 and research indicates that feeding by humans is frequently associated with attacks and aggressive behavior.
Coyotes in Oregon
Coyotes are found all across our urban, suburban, rural, and natural landscapes in Oregon. Coyotes are opportunistic omnivores and mainly eat rodents, fruit, and nuts but they will also consume whatever food they can find including food waste, pet food, and sometimes small pets like outdoor cats. It is not unusual to see coyotes in urban areas like Portland, even during the daytime. By following a few simple steps, we can all work together to keep people, pets, and coyotes safe.
Follow these tips:
- Remove food sources. Never intentionally or accidentally feed a coyote.
- Don't approach a coyote – scare away bold coyotes.
- Keep your pets safe (either supervised, on a leash, or inside).
- Monitor young children closely, especially in the Alameda neighborhood in Portland.
- Share these tips with your community.
Please immediately report concerning encounters and aggressive behavior towards people or pets to ODFW at 971-673-6000. Dial 911 in the event of an attack or other emergency.
Learn more about living with coyotes from ODFW and the Portland Urban Coyote Project.
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