San Diego Police said the attack occurred around 9:06pm near PF Chang’s at 4500 La Jolla Village Drive, directly across from the mall’s main parking lot and steps from the popular restaurant cluster that includes Sweetgreen and The Amalfi Llama. Witnesses told officers that a coyote approached the family before one of the animal bit the child on the arm and hip.
The girl was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Her condition has not yet been released.
San Diego Humane Society’s law enforcement division responded but said the coyote was gone by the time officers and wildlife staff arrived. The case has now been turned over to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which investigates all coyote-human attacks in the region and will determine whether the animals involved can be located and identified.
The incident is unusual for its location. The immediate area around Westfield UTC is heavily developed, brightly lit, and active late into the evening - typically a deterrent to urban coyote encounters. While coyote sightings in University City are not unheard of, attacks remain rare, and wildlife officials have not yet said whether the animal was acting unusually or had become habituated to human activity.
The San Diego Humane Society urges residents to “haze” coyotes when encountered - an important method for keeping wild animals wary of people. Effective hazing includes standing tall, yelling, waving arms, clapping, stomping, or using tools like noisemakers or water spray. Officials emphasize that hazing must be persistent until the animal fully leaves the area, as coyotes unfamiliar with humans may not retreat immediately.
Local wildlife experts say rising development, unsecured food sources, and human feeding behavior can all increase the likelihood of coyote interactions. The agency maintains additional guidance online for preventing encounters, securing pets, and reporting aggressive behavior.
State investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the attack or saw coyotes in the immediate area around the time of the incident to contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Originally published on November 25, 2025.
