4-year-old boy injured in second attack by coyote in North Kildonan area

A four-year-old boy was attacked by a coyote in the Headmaster Row area of North Kildonanin Winnipegon Friday, Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development said in a news release Sunday.

The attack happened six days aftera coyote mauled anine-year-old boy, also in the North Kildonanarea.

The four-year-old child has been treated and released from hospital,the news release said.

Conservation officers have increased patrols and brought in a trapper from the Manitoba Trappers Association to help out, but the public is still advised to take extra precautions, especially with young children, the news release said.

The attacks have people who live in the area on edge.

'They've gotta do something'

Steve Halabura, who lives a block over from the location of the latest attack, said he's never seen so many coyotes in the 50 years he's lived there.

One recently followed him while out on a walk, he told CBC.

"They've gotta do something about it ... because they're getting bad here," he said. "I really have to go ahead and watch myself so I don't get mauled or thrown over."

"They've been coming on stronger and stronger," Halabura said.

Other area residents say they're being more vigilant with their children and cautioning them what to do if they encounter a coyote.

"We tell them to kind of act big and make a lot of noise," Richard Peters said.

The father of children agesix and one saidthe animals seem to use open fields, long grass and bush as passages to move around the area, which is on the edge of the city and sports many open field areas.

"We can hear them at night. They're obviously very active," Peters said.

He no longer lets his kids out unattended in thefront yard a change brought about by the first attack two weeks ago.

Manitoba Conservationencourages peopleto supervise children closely. They also askpeople to feed pets indoors, keep their pets leashed and reduce attractants.

If a coyote is spotted, people should stay in groups, make noise and do what they can to appear large and not run, as that "might incite a chase," the news release said.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the Turn in Poachers (TIP) line at 1-800-782-0076.