Toddler left with nearly 150 stitches after coyote attack in Burnaby

Amanda Dycke said she knew something bad had happened to her son when she heard the toddler scream on Tuesday.

She ran outside to find herthree-year-old lying in the road, being attacked by a coyote.

"I saw the coyote on his head, chewing on his head," she said.

Dycke'sson, Ayden Ramm, needed 148 stitches after the attack outside the family backyard in Burnaby, B.C.

It was the first of two coyote attacks in Metro Vancouver within 24 hours this week.

'I scooped up my son and started running'

Ayden hadbeen playing outside in the sun with his dad, Chris Ramm, when he walkedout the back gate in the area of Kitchener Street andDuthieAvenue, near BurnabyMountain.

Dyckesaid the coyote was on him within seconds.

She said she charged the animal "full speed," scaring it off just enough for her to grab the toddler.

"I scooped up my son andstarted running," Dyckesaid.

"He was just covered in head to toe in blood ... He couldn't blink. It looked like he was crying blood."

Dyckecalled 911 and an ambulance took Ayden to B.C. Children's Hospital.

She said the coyote paced around their backyard while she was on the phone, even though a crowd of neighbours had gathered.

"Its mouth was dripping in my son's blood,"Dyckesaid.

Aydenhad gashes on his head and neck, puncture wounds and scratches all over his body.

Dyckesaid a plastic surgeon was called to stitch his woundsto minimize scarring.

The toddlerwas recovering at homeWednesday, on a heavy dose of antibiotics to prevent infection.

Coyote came when called

On Tuesday night, the B.C. Conservation Service tracked down and killed a coyote matching the description of the one that attacked Ayden.

Officialssaid the animal showed no signs of fear.

"In fact, the conservation officer was able to whistle to him, and it came," spokesperson Alicia Stark said.

Officials are running DNA tests to confirm it was the same animal that attacked the toddler.

Stark said Ayden's injuries are unusually serious for a coyote attack.

"Coyote attacks are very rare in this area ... when we do see them they are minor, maybe a scratch or a small bite."

Dycke said the neighbourhood is shaken by what happened to her son.

"It's nice, it's sunny and people won't let their kids out. We're all terrified."

Separate attack the next day

On Wednesday,adog walker fought off another coyote asit attacked a dogin North Vancouver.

Lorrie Cole said dog walkerDenise Baker-Grantwas about to let her pets off leash on the Baden-Powell Trail by Grouse Mountain when she heard yelling.

Baker-Grant ran to see another woman'sshih-tzubeing attacked by a coyote.

In a Facebook post, Cole said Baker-Grant had toattack the animal to save the pet dog.

"She punched it hard in the face. It let go, but lunged again, so she kicked it hard and it finally left," Cole'spost read.

When reached by phone on Wednesday, Baker-Grantdeclined to be interviewed because she was "alittle sore," but she confirmed what Cole described in herpost.

What to do when you see a coyote

If you see acoyote, conservation officers adviseyou to:

• Make yourself look large andback away slowly.
• Stay with your children.
• Keep dogs on a leash.
• Not approach the coyote and get into a vehicle or back inyour house.