The security camera footage began innocently enough – a three-year-old boy, full of boundless energy, darted out the front door and onto the driveway. He was a flash of bright color against the suburban landscape, a typical Monday morning unfolding in Pasadena, California.
Then, everything changed. The boy froze mid-stride, his small body suddenly rigid with fear. A panicked turn, a desperate shriek ripped through the quiet morning air, and he sprinted back towards the house, legs pumping as fast as they could carry him.
Trailing him, a shadow emerged – a coyote, sleek and focused, its eyes fixed on the fleeing child. The animal moved with a predatory grace, closing the distance with alarming speed as it crossed the manicured lawn.
A second, even more piercing scream erupted, this one belonging to an adult. Aida Svelto, the boy’s mother, had just stepped outside and witnessed the terrifying chase unfold before her eyes. Her son, Salvo, had bolted towards her, clinging to her legs in sheer terror.
“Sal went out the gate like he always does before me,” Svelto recounted, her voice still shaken. “Then I heard a scream, and Sal came running back. He grabbed onto my legs, then I screamed because I saw a big, giant coyote.”
The coyote, startled by the adult’s scream, paused and then retreated, disappearing back from whence it came. Salvo was miraculously unharmed, spared from a potentially devastating encounter.
Coyotes are a familiar sight in the hilly neighborhoods of Southern California, often seen prowling the streets. But Svelto emphasized this was different. She’d seen them before, always keeping a respectful distance, but never one so bold, so intent on crossing into her property.
“We have seen them, but they typically just stay on the street,” she explained. “I really didn't feel nervous. Now I'm nervous.” The size and demeanor of this particular coyote had been deeply unsettling, a stark contrast to previous encounters.
Experts explain that this time of year brings increased coyote activity. Mating season fuels a heightened search for partners and food, driving them to explore further and become more inquisitive. This natural behavior, while essential to their survival, can sometimes lead to dangerous interactions.
While coyotes play a vital role in the California ecosystem, controlling rodent populations and scavenging carcasses, they are opportunistic predators. Small pets are occasionally targeted, and though rare, encounters with humans can occur, particularly when the animals are driven by instinct and necessity.
