Coyote Tears Off Toddler's Ear In Vicious Attack At Park, Predator Euthanized

A coyote that attacked a toddler in West Edmonton, Canada, has been euthanized. The child was discharged from the hospital Thursday (April 23) after she underwent plastic surgery and stitches to the back of her head.

The horrifying incident took place Monday (April 20) evening when two-year-old Kavana Starr went to the Coronation Park with her grandfather where she was mauled by a coyote. The predator bit the infant on the back of her head and tore off her right ear.

“She was running around by a mound and she went running down that,” said John Starr, the girl’s grandfather. That is when he spotted the coyote.

“I took a double look and I saw it was a coyote and I got up, I ran,” said Starr. “She came back holding her ear and I thought, oh my God.”

Her grandfather immediately rushed to the scene and picked her up. The vicious animal kept following them while he ran for help. Several onlookers in the park rushed over for rescuing the child and her grandfather. They barricaded themselves between the duo and the animal. Starr brought the girl home and called for help.

“I didn’t realize how serious it was until we got inside. Thank god I have first aid … my daughter called 911 and stayed calm. (Kavana) wasn’t even crying until we saw her mom,” her grandfather John Starr told local media.

“I wanted to bite the coyote myself and, you know, take care of it, but my first priority, since I have first aid, is just to cover the blood — I put her against my shoulder,” he said.

She was rushed to the hospital where the doctors used 10 staples to patch the wounds on the back of her head. She underwent plastic surgery to repair her ear that was bitten. She was discharged healthy from Stollery Children’s Hospital Thursday afternoon.

“She had 10 staples in her head… It’s actually a miracle that she came out of it as she did,” said Kavana’s aunt, Rochelle Starr.

The attack was reported to Alberta Fish and Wildlife but they weren’t able to find the coyote Monday evening. However, they located the animal the following morning after a woman reported that she and her dog were harassed by a coyote in the same area.

Considering the safety of the visitors the animal was euthanized and was also submitted for rabies testing.

“Predatory attacks like this incident are rare. Coyotes are not usually aggressive toward humans but can become bolder around people if backyards, playgrounds, or parks can provide them with easy meals,” Edmonton district Sgt. Marc Foisy with Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement said in an email statement.

“The likelihood of a problem encounter increases if coyotes are fed by people, as they lose their natural fear of humans,” she said.

Starr noticed that the garbage cans in the park were overflowing and he wondered if this was a factor for them to loiter around.

The authorities have now posted alert signs throughout the park to warn people of the potential presence of coyotes in the area.