ROAMING COYOTE ATTACKS 4 CHILDREN WITHIN HOUR.

Byline: Angie Valencia Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - Debbie Field was playing with her 3-year-old son, Weston, when she went to retrieve a ball he had thrown into the neighbor's yard.

``Next thing I heard was a scream. Fear ran through my veins,'' she said. ``I'm looking at him and I see blood all over his face.''

The boy was mauled by a coyote that roamed Sunday evening into the neighborhood and attacked three other boys between 2 and 8 years old before police shot and killed it. The attacks occurred outside their family homes in the Wood Ranch area near the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library within one hour. None of the children was seriously hurt, Sgt. Joe May said.

But animal-control officers warned that large numbers of coyotes have been spotted in the hillsides and that people need to be wary to protect pets and small children.

Weston, who lives on Hill Valley Court, suffered bites to his face, neck, head and ear as the coyote held him by the head and neck and attempted to drag him away.

The coyote knocked the boy down on his front porch and left only as Field screamed for help. He was taken to Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks.

The string of attacks occurred shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday in one of Simi Valley's newest gated communities on the west end of town, adjacent to the hills of the presidential library.

Three of the children were transported to local hospitals where they were treated and released as of Monday morning, according to hospital officials.

Kathy Jenks, director of the Ventura County Animal Regulation Department, said the full-grown female coyote did not appear to have rabies.

Jenks said confrontations with coyotes could continue through the dry season.

``The coyotes are out looking for food and water,'' she said. ``They are wild animals. We've been up in the Simi area handing down fliers, reminding people that this is going to be an awful year.''

Los Angeles animal-control officials also said they have been receiving more coyote complaints recently.

In May, the city's West Valley Animal Shelter alone received about 60 calls from residents who spotted coyotes. The communities included Topanga Canyon, Woodland Hills, West Hills, North Hills, Tarzana and others.

``The vast majority are just sightings. There have been some attacks on pets,'' said Los Angeles animal-control officer Troy Boswell. ``Sightings are on an upswing now because a lot of pups are being born. It always goes up around this time of year.''

In the Simi Valley attacks, police officers were first called to a Parkview Court home Sunday evening when witnesses said 2- and 3-year-old boys were attacked while they played in their back yard. After biting both toddlers on the ankle, the coyote was driven away by neighbors.

Later, southwest of the first attacks toward Twisted Oak Drive, the same coyote attacked a 8-year-old boy playing street hockey in front of his house.

The boy suffered a small scratch to his ankle, but did not receive medical attention at his father's request.

After moving on to attack Weston Field at his home on Hill Valley Court, the coyote was cornered by police officers near Park Hill Road and Canyon View Drive. They shot the animal twice after it threatened to attack them.

``I was stunned, in disbelief,'' Field said. ``Coyotes don't come down in broad daylight.''

Dina Wolcott, who lives in the area, said she was one of the people who came out to help when she heard the commotion during the initial attack on the 2- and 3-year-olds.

``When I opened our garage, the coyote was there just staring at us,'' said Wolcott. ``It was eerie seeing how aggressive they are. I have lived here for five years. I hope it was an isolated incident.''

Angie Valencia, [phone]

angie.valencia(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Debbie Field's 3-year-old son, Weston, suffered bites on his head and face when he was attacked by a coyote Sunday.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer