An Arizona mother suffered facial injuries after fighting off a coyote that attacked her four-year-old daughter in their Surprise neighbourhood. Brittany Cardinal was flying kites with her daughter on Sunday when she heard the girl scream and saw the animal biting her; she scooped the child up and fought the coyote off, ultimately taking the brunt of the attack herself. Wildlife officials have praised her response as exactly the right course of action when confronting an aggressive coyote.

Cardinal was knocked down during the struggle and sustained lacerations and puncture wounds to her face, including injuries near her mouth that required stitches, though she said she felt little pain in the moment due to the adrenaline of protecting her daughter. She managed to get herself and her child back home to call for help. A spokesperson for the Arizona Game and Fish Department confirmed that fighting back and making noise, rather than fleeing, is the recommended response to an aggressive coyote. Authorities have since removed several coyotes from the area for rabies testing and are urging residents not to leave food outside that could attract wildlife.