Ryan Palludan,11, did some quick thinking over the weekend when he saved his 22-month-old nephew over the weekend. The two were playing in the outside when Ryan saw what looked like a deer bolt across the yard.
When it grabbed Liam, Ryan sprung into action yelling and kicking at the attacker which was later determined to be a coyote.
“It ran real fast, and in 10 seconds it was on Liam’s back, biting the back of his head and his neck,” Palludan said. “My dad and I chased it into the woods, and my sister got Liam inside.
“My dad turned to walk away and it came running back at him. I yelled, ‘Dad, it’s coming for you!’ and he chased it away again. But it didn’t go all the way into the woods,” Palludan explained. “It was kind of staying on the edge. It wanted its food.”
The toddler’s grandfather, who is familiar with coyote’s, said that this one was the size of a german sheppard.
Township administrator Robert Czech said that while officials don’t have independent confirmation, the attack on the toddler and the descriptions of a few other possible sightings may mean coyotes are lurking in nearby neighborhoods. The township is some 40 miles southwest of New York City.
Liam, who lives in Crestview, Fla., is undergoing a series of rabies shots as a precaution. He suffered bites on his head and neck, but is doing fine, relatives said.
