Girl gets rabies shot after being bitten by coyote at Scottsdale park

A coyote has attacked a little girl at a north Scottsdale park Tuesday night, and on Wednesday, officials with Arizona Game and Fish said she was not trying to feed the coyote in question.

The five-year-old was holding a granola bar at Thompson Peak Park, and sat down on a slide when the incident happened.

"There was a coyote, unbeknownst to them, underneath the slide, taking advantage of the shade," said Amy Burnett with Arizona Game and Fish. "The coyote bit her on the thigh."

Burnett said the coyote was probably taking advantage of the shade provided underneath the slide, due to the high temperatures at the time. Burnett said the girl screamed, and the girl's mother then rushed her to the car, as the coyote chased behind them.

Locals said there are two or three coyotes that regularly wander the park. Game and Fish removed one of the coyotes on Tuesday night, and another one Wednesday morning. Both were reportedly destroyed.

"I think it's really scary, but also, we've kind of come into their area, and they were here before we were, so I don't really know what we can do, other than really keep a close eye on our kids," said Amber Curlee, who takes her infant child to the park.

The girl, according to Game and Fish officials, received a rabies shot, but didn't need stitches. No other family members were hurt.