Arizona Mother Fights Off Coyote Attacking Daughter in Surprise, Wildlife Officials Investigate
A mother in Surprise, Arizona, Brittany Cardinal, is recovering after she fought off a coyote that attacked her 4-year-old daughter. The incident occurred during a Sunday afternoon kite-flying activity in their neighborhood. Cardinal heard her daughter scream and saw a coyote nipping at her. She picked up her daughter and yelled at the animal, but it did not retreat. During the struggle, Cardinal fell, and the coyote lunged, biting her face and causing lacerations and puncture wounds. This marks the first recorded coyote attack on a person in the Valley since December 2023, according to Arizona Game and Fish Officials. Wildlife officials have since removed several coyotes from the area for rabies testing, though the reason for the attack remains unclear.