A five-year-old girl was bitten by a coyote at San Francisco Botanical Garden on June 28, 2024, during a supervised summer-camp visit. Three coyotes were killed over the weekend while officials sought to identify the animal; on July 2, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) said DNA from the girl’s bite wounds matched one of them and that the operation had concluded.
Key takeaways
- The bite happened Friday, June 28, while the girl was at the garden with a supervised summer camp.
- The garden temporarily closed, then reopened Monday, July 1.
- Three coyotes were killed over the weekend as officials worked to identify the animal responsible.
- CDFW reported on July 2 that DNA from the girl’s bite wounds matched one of the coyotes euthanized over the weekend.
- The available reporting does not establish why the coyote approached or bit the girl. Seasonal pupping behavior was offered as context, not as a confirmed explanation.
What happened at the San Francisco Botanical Garden?
At about 11:15 a.m. on June 28, 2024, a five-year-old girl was bitten while playing near other children during a supervised summer-camp visit to the garden. Her mother told the San Francisco Chronicle that the girl started to run, tripped, and was bitten while she was down. That sequence is the mother’s account as reported by the newspaper.
Park staff summoned paramedics. The Chronicle reported that the girl was treated at a hospital, where doctors stitched the wound and gave her a rabies vaccine. Officials swabbed around the wound and took the girl’s dress in an effort to collect DNA evidence. Read the Chronicle’s report on the attack and response.
The garden temporarily closed after the bite and reopened Monday, July 1. Initial reports said DNA testing was still underway; the match was announced the following day.
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Why were three coyotes killed?
Three coyotes were killed in the garden and Golden Gate Park area over the weekend of June 29–30 while officials sought to identify the animal involved. The Chronicle reported that two were killed Saturday and one Sunday. Initial accounts said agencies were testing DNA from the coyotes against evidence collected from the girl.
On July 2, CDFW captain Patrick Foy told SFGATE that forensic scientists had matched the DNA profile from the bite wounds to one coyote euthanized over the weekend. CDFW also said wildlife officers and USDA personnel had concluded their operation. The DNA result identified a match to one animal; it does not establish that the other two coyotes were involved in the bite. See SFGATE’s report and July 2 update.
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| Date | Event | What reporting established |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, June 28, 2024 | Girl bitten during a supervised camp visit | The bite happened at about 11:15 a.m.; the mother described the sequence to the Chronicle. |
| After the bite | Evidence collected and garden temporarily closed | Officials swabbed around the wound and took the girl’s dress in an effort to collect DNA evidence. |
| Saturday and Sunday, June 29–30 | Three coyotes killed | Two were killed Saturday and one Sunday while officials sought to identify the animal. |
| Monday, July 1 | Garden reopened | The Chronicle reported that the garden reopened Monday. |
| Tuesday, July 2 | DNA match announced | CDFW said the bite-wound DNA matched one of the coyotes euthanized over the weekend and the operation had concluded. |
Was the coyote protecting pups?
The available reports do not establish that the coyote was defending pups or a den. San Francisco Recreation and Park Department spokesperson Tamara Barak Aparton said, “During pupping season, coyotes can exhibit more protective behavior to safeguard their young.” That was seasonal context, not a finding about the motive in this specific incident.
The sources reviewed for this article do not establish the precise reason the coyote approached or bit the girl. They also do not establish the reproductive status of all three coyotes.
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What guidance was reported after the attack?
Contemporaneous reports advised people not to feed or befriend coyotes and to back away while making loud noises. SFGATE quoted Animal Care and Control spokesperson Deb Campbell saying summer brings a predictable increase in coyote activity as pups emerge from dens. KTVU reported CDFW captain Patrick Foy’s warning against feeding coyotes.
- Keep your distance and back away slowly if a coyote approaches.
- Make loud noises, such as yelling or clapping, while moving away.
- Do not feed or try to befriend coyotes.
This is guidance reported at the time of the 2024 incident, not a substitute for current agency advice. Check current information from local authorities for present-day safety and access instructions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which coyote bit the girl at the San Francisco Botanical Garden?
CDFW said DNA from the girl’s bite wounds matched one of the coyotes euthanized over the weekend. The supplied reports do not name the individual animal.
Why were three coyotes killed after the attack?
Three coyotes in the garden and Golden Gate Park area were killed while officials sought to identify the animal involved. The DNA match announced July 2 was to one of the three.
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When did the botanical garden reopen?
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the garden reopened Monday, July 1, 2024, after its temporary closure.
Was the coyote protecting pups?
The available reporting does not establish that as the cause. A city spokesperson described pupping season as a period when coyotes can show more protective behavior, but that was general context rather than a confirmed explanation of this bite.
What should you do if a coyote approaches?
Reported guidance was to back away slowly while making loud noises, and not to feed or befriend the animal. Consult current local agency guidance for the latest recommendations.
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