Mother Rushes to Protect Daughter During Coyote Attack
A routine afternoon of flying a kite turned into a frightening wildlife encounter for an Arizona mother and her 4-year-old daughter.
Brittany Cardinal was outside with her daughter in their Surprise, Arizona, neighborhood on Sunday, Sept. 6, when she heard the child screaming. She turned around and saw a coyote attacking the young girl.
Cardinal immediately picked up her daughter and tried to drive the animal away by shouting at it. When the coyote refused to retreat, she took off her flip-flop and attempted to scare it away by striking toward it.
The confrontation quickly became more dangerous, with the coyote turning its attention to Cardinal.
Coyote Bites Mother in the Face
During the struggle, Cardinal fell, and the animal lunged at her, biting her face. She was left with lacerations and puncture wounds on both sides of her face and required medical treatment, including stitches.
Cardinal later described the attack as more of a sensation of pressure than pain, saying she did not have time to focus on her injuries while trying to protect her daughter.
Eventually, the mother and child managed to get away from the animal and ran home to seek help. The 4-year-old also suffered a bite during the encounter.
Despite the frightening experience, Cardinal said she never stopped thinking about getting her daughter to safety.
Wildlife Officials Investigate and Issue Safety Advice
Arizona Game and Fish officials said the reason for the coyote’s aggressive behavior remains unclear. Several coyotes were subsequently removed from the area and are being tested for rabies.
Officials also praised Cardinal’s response, saying that fighting back, making loud noises and attempting to make the animal retreat are appropriate actions during an aggressive coyote encounter.
The incident was reportedly the first recorded coyote attack on a person in the Phoenix-area Valley since December 2023.
Wildlife officials are reminding residents to avoid leaving food, pet food, trash or other potential attractants outside. Residents are also encouraged to make coyotes uncomfortable by yelling or clapping if one enters their property.
For Cardinal, however, the response was instinctive. Her priority was simply keeping her young daughter safe.
