By james art A 10-year-old boy was injured when a coyote bit him while riding his bike to school on Tuesday morning, Oct. 22, police said.
The boy was riding his bike near the Pathway near Portola Springs Elementary School when he stopped to take off his jacket, felt something on his lower leg and realized a coyote had bit him, said Sgt. Carrie Davis, a spokesman for the Irvine Police Department.
As soon as he got to school, the boy reported the bite. He was treated by his primary care physician for a minor skin break, Davis said.
The police department’s animal services unit is working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to investigate the incident and locate the coyote.
Because coyotes are native to the city, Irvine police encouraged residents to watch pets when outside, to consider keeping their animals as pets if they live in an area occupied by coyotes, to use a non-retractable leash when walking dogs and cleaning fruit that may have fallen from trees.