NEHALEM, OR (KPTV) -
A coyote believed to be responsible for an attack on a 5-year-old girl at an Oregon Coast park has been killed by wildlife service officers.
The encounter happened June 14 at Nehalem Bay State Park.
The girl's family had just finished watching the sunset on the beach. They started walking back along the trail that leads to the campground when the coyote attacked.
During the encounter, the girl suffered injuries, but state park representatives wouldn't go so far as to say she was bitten by the animal. Officials said it was the first reported coyote attack in state park history.
The girl's parents took her to Providence Seaside Hospital to be treated.
On Friday, wildlife service agents from the U.S. Department of Agriculture went to the park and performed imitation coyote calls. A parks spokesman said an adult, female coyote responded, and the agents used "lethal force" on the coyote and removed her from the park.
So far, no other coyotes have been found in the area.
After word of the attack got out, three other families who camped in the park reported their own encounters with a coyote. No one was bitten in those groups.
One of the families took a photo of the coyote believed to be responsible for the attack earlier this month and provided it to state parks officials.
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