San Clemente School Stays on Alert

Living against the foothills in San Clemente, Thomas Newell has seen his share of coyotes as he walked his dog late at night. But Newell never imagined a coyote wanted any part of daylight or a playground crowded with screaming kids.

But that’s what happened Tuesday, when his daughter and another student were attacked by a coyote during a lunchtime recess on the playground of the local elementary school.

“When you get a call from the school telling you to come get your kid, you expect to hear that they are sick,” he said. “It’s shocking to hear they were attacked by a coyote on the playground.”

Newell said his 8-year-old daughter, Allison, has a few puncture wounds on her back and a few scrapes on her back and shoulder after being knocked down from behind. But other than having a stiff neck, Allison is in good spirits and should be back at Truman Benedict Elementary School today, Newell said.

The other victim, second-grader Luis Villalobos, attended school Wednesday but left early after complaining of sore muscles. Charlotte Hibsch, the school principal, said she knew of no other parents who kept their children home Wednesday. But some parents walked their children to their classrooms and many met with officials from the state Department of Fish and Game, discussing precautions their kids could take should they encounter a coyote. Some children who witnessed the attack spoke to a school psychologist.

Hibsch said she wanted to assure parents that their children would be safe. Before teachers and parents arrived at school, Orange County sheriff’s deputies and wardens from the Fish and Game department were patrolling the foothills above campus. A school district employee, Geoff Buffum, was walking the perimeter of the campus.

Buffum, a special education assistant at San Clemente High, has been temporarily reassigned to Truman Benedict.

“I’m mainly keeping an eye on the hills and the playground,” Buffum said. “Should I see anything suspicious, I’ve been told to radio it in so they can alert Fish and Game. If need be, I’ll get in between the coyotes and the kids.”

John Fallan, a warden with the Fish and Game department, said it is not unusual to see a coyote in the middle of the day near urban areas. But he said it is odd for one to come into a noisy schoolyard.

“There are no absolutes when it comes to wildlife,” Fallan said. “Their population is increasing and their habitat is decreasing. We’re getting calls about them now in Huntington Beach, Tustin, Irvine and Westminster.”

Shortly after the attacks, a team of wildlife specialists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture searched the campus and its surroundings, eventually cornering two coyotes on a hillside and shooting them with a high-powered rifle. Fallan said two more coyotes were shot last night.

“We will try to determine by DNA if any body fluids from the children are in the coyotes,” Fallan said. “

Newell said he was pleased with the school’s quick response to what he called a “freak” incident.

“I don’t think the school did anything wrong,” he said. “What can you do? The coyotes are just trying to survive. Apparently they’ve gotten a lot braver.”

Newell said he’s not running scared: “I’m not moving. I love where I live. The chances are pretty slim something like this can happen again.”

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Coyote Commotion

State Department of Fish and Game specialists met with parents Wednesday at Truman Benedict Elementary School, where two students were attacked by a coyote during lunch recess Tuesday.

Whom to Call

Orange County Animal Control:

(714) 935-6848

Size: 32-40 inches long with 12- to 15-inch bushy tail; about 24 inches tall at the shoulder; weighs 30-50 pounds

Markings: Gray on back, reddish-tan flanks, yellow-brown legs, feet and ears

Diet: An opportunistic eater, taking whatever is available, including rodents, fruit, insects, pet food and garbage

Habits: Mostly nocturnal, spends days in brush and enters residential areas mostly after dark. Some live full time in urban areas such as vacant lots. Have been known to mate with domestic dogs.

Speed/range: Can run up to 35 m.p.h. and cover up to 15 miles per night

Coyote Deterrence

Never feed coyotes.

Cover trash bins and cans.

Do not leave pets or their food outside.

If you take your pet outside, stay with it.

Remove ripened fruit from trees and ground.

Fence yards or brushy slopes; bury bottom of fence at least 6 inches.

If you encounter a coyote, throw rocks, squirt it with hose, yell or do anything to make it uncomfortable.

Do not leave young children unattended.

Older children should use the buddy system when playing outside.

Do not leave doors open or use pet doors.

Sources: Encyclopedia Americana; “Peterson Field Guide to Mammals”; Orange County Animal Control