Horror as coyote attacks 2 children near San Diego mall, leaving 3-year-old girl with bite wounds

Two children were left seriously injured by a terrifying coyote attack near a San Diego mall.

A three-year-old girl was one of the innocent victims who had to be rushed to the hospital after the wild animal injured her arm and hip, NBC San Diego reports.

The unidentified toddler was treated at Rady Children’s Hospital after she was bitten around 9pm on November 25.

Fortunately, she was discharged from care shortly after. The other victim’s condition and injuries remain unknown.

The vicious attack took place near a Crate & Barrel store at UTC Westfield Mall, to where first responders were called.

Unfortunately, the coyote had long disappeared by the time paramedics arrived.

The California Department of Fish & Wildlife is continuing to investigate the incident. Officials took DNA samples and sent them to a forensics lab.

CDFW hopes to find and capture the culprit with the help of U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Service, according to NBC.

Two children were attacked by a coyote at Westfield UTC Mall in San Diego

While it’s rare for coyotes to approach humans, the mall was near canyons and green belts that may have attracted it

The incident left mall-goers shocked that something so terrifying could happen so close to home.

‘I mean, it’s the mall,’ one resident said to the outlet. ‘You don’t think about if I’m going to come here at night, I have to be aware of animals.’

Fortunately, the Humane Society for Animals has reported that it is ‘very rare’ for humans to be ambushed by coyotes.

‘Coyote attacks are preventable by modifying human behavior and educating people about ways to prevent habituation,’ they explained.

‘In many human attack incidents, it turns out that the offending coyote was being fed by people.’

It is unclear what the children were doing when the animal approached them, but Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor Angela Hernandez-Cusick told ABC 10 about her theories.

‘We can speculate that it could have been some sort of prey motivation that maybe was enacted if the child moved a certain way, or maybe the child approached an area that the coyote wasn’t expecting,’ she told the outlet.

The little girl was treated at Rady Children’s hospital for injuries to her arm and hip

Hernandez-Cusick explained that most coyotes are naturally afraid of humans and tend to avoid them.

The mall is near canyons and green belts, which may have attracted young coyotes wandering away from their families for the first time.

‘It’s not completely unheard of that they could still venture into those areas. Certainly, where there are a lot of people, there’s going to be a lot of garbage,’ Hernandez-Cusick explained to 10 News.

Experts recommended ‘hazing’ the animals if they get too close for comfort.

Hazing tools include yelling, waving arms, noise makers, and throwing things to ensure that the animal doesn’t get too comfortable.