Coyote Attacks 11-Year-Old Girl At Trans-Canada Highway Rest Stop

 

An 11-year-old girl was attacked by a Coyote at a Trans-Canada Highway rest stop in Southern Alberta on Boxing Day.

The Nyberg family said they were returning home around 7:30pm when the incident happened. According to a Facebook post by the girl’s mother, Alyshia Nyberg, they had to pull over so their daughter could use the bathroom, when they experienced “the scariest encounter” they’ve ever had.

“It just happened so fast. He came out of nowhere”, said 11-year-old Hailey Nyberg. Her mother said the Coyote came up and grabbed her by the leg, tried dragging her not once, not twice but three times.

“She did everything right, she kicked and screamed”, said Alyshia. “Both my husband and I got out of the vehicle, my husband went to grab our daughter and scare the coyote away and I went and grabbed her from him to get her in the vehicle and look at the damage he had done.”

Alyshia said she believes something isn’t right with the coyote as it wasn’t scared of them nor did it move away from the vehicle. The coyote also tried to attack her husband. “I stared into this coyotes eyes and it was the scariest look he’d ever given or that I have ever gotten”, said Alyshia.

Hailey has received medical care and according to her she is “scared and has some wounds but she is ok.” Alyshia expressed gratitude to the medical team and other emergency officials who assisted them.

According to advice from the Alberta government on coyotes, residents should never feed coyotes as this may encourage them to return to neighborhoods. Residents are advised to remove low branches, keep a clean backyard and take out garbage only on the morning of collection.

The government stresses on the importance of cleaning up dog feces as this attracts coyotes. Most importantly, never approach coyotes or any wildlife.

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