Kelly Keen Coyote Attack
Encyclopedia
The Kelly Keen coyote attack was a fatal coyote
attack which took place in Glendale, California
in August, 1981. The victim was 3-year-old Kelly Lynn Keen, who was the first recorded victim of a fatal coyote attack in the USA.
Following Kelly Keen’s death in Glendale, the Commissioner’s personnel developed the first serious urban coyote management program. After 80 days of leghold trapping and shooting within a 0.5-mile (0.8-km) radius of the attack site, county personnel trapped and shot 55 coyotes.
activist Pamelyn Ferdin
attended a Glendale City Council meeting regarding a proposal to cull urban coyotes. Ferdin addressed the Council wearing a shirt covered in fake blood, urging the city to oppose the cull. Ferdin mentioned the Keen event, and argued that rather than having been killed by a coyote, Kelly had been the victim of child abuse
. She claimed that medical records indicated that the child died of a ruptured spleen
, which could only have come from blunt trauma, not an animal bite. Her colleague, Michael Bell, went further by claiming that, after digging around in hospital records, he discovered discrepancies and missing documents. He stated that the coyote story was a cover-up for how the child really died. Robert and Cathy Keen watched the meeting live on cable and, upon hearing Bell's statement, raced to the Glendale City hall to respond to the allegations. They recounted the event to the council, and showed the death certificate, which listed the cause of the child’s injuries as "mauled by a coyote".
Ferdin's stance remained unchanged; "I stand by my beliefs that a coyote did not kill (the girl)." Her accusation was met with harsh criticism. Councilman Frank Quintero stated "What the activists said at the dais was cruel and absolutely uninformed... Knowing the mother, it broke my heart that they would do that to her. When they were making the accusations, I was considering stopping them."
, a 19-year-old Canadian folk singer. On October 28, 2009, Mitchell died from injuries sustained in an attack while hiking, during a tour break, in the Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia
, Canada.
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
attack which took place in Glendale, California
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
in August, 1981. The victim was 3-year-old Kelly Lynn Keen, who was the first recorded victim of a fatal coyote attack in the USA.
The attack and aftermath
Kelly was left by her mother Cathy in the living room to watch cartoons, and the girl left through the front door of the family's Chevy Chase Canyon home. Kelly encountered the coyote in the driveway, and was dragged through the street. Kelly's father Robert chased the coyote off and rushed Kelly to the Glendale Adventist Hospital, where she was in surgery for four hours. She died from a broken neck and blood loss.Following Kelly Keen’s death in Glendale, the Commissioner’s personnel developed the first serious urban coyote management program. After 80 days of leghold trapping and shooting within a 0.5-mile (0.8-km) radius of the attack site, county personnel trapped and shot 55 coyotes.
Controversy
In 2004, animal rightsAnimal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
activist Pamelyn Ferdin
Pamelyn Ferdin
Pamelyn Ferdin is a former American television and film child actor, active both in live action and as a voice actress in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s and has since appeared in several voice acting roles as late as 2009...
attended a Glendale City Council meeting regarding a proposal to cull urban coyotes. Ferdin addressed the Council wearing a shirt covered in fake blood, urging the city to oppose the cull. Ferdin mentioned the Keen event, and argued that rather than having been killed by a coyote, Kelly had been the victim of child abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
. She claimed that medical records indicated that the child died of a ruptured spleen
Spleen
The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrate animals with important roles in regard to red blood cells and the immune system. In humans, it is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood in case of hemorrhagic shock...
, which could only have come from blunt trauma, not an animal bite. Her colleague, Michael Bell, went further by claiming that, after digging around in hospital records, he discovered discrepancies and missing documents. He stated that the coyote story was a cover-up for how the child really died. Robert and Cathy Keen watched the meeting live on cable and, upon hearing Bell's statement, raced to the Glendale City hall to respond to the allegations. They recounted the event to the council, and showed the death certificate, which listed the cause of the child’s injuries as "mauled by a coyote".
Ferdin's stance remained unchanged; "I stand by my beliefs that a coyote did not kill (the girl)." Her accusation was met with harsh criticism. Councilman Frank Quintero stated "What the activists said at the dais was cruel and absolutely uninformed... Knowing the mother, it broke my heart that they would do that to her. When they were making the accusations, I was considering stopping them."
Coyote attacks on humans
There are currently two recorded fatal attacks on humans by coyotes. Keen was the first fatality. The second fatality was Taylor MitchellTaylor Mitchell
Taylor Josephine Stephanie Luciow, known by her stage name Taylor Mitchell, was a Canadian folk singer. She is the only adult person, and second person overall known to be fatally attacked by coyotes.-Personal life:...
, a 19-year-old Canadian folk singer. On October 28, 2009, Mitchell died from injuries sustained in an attack while hiking, during a tour break, in the Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada.
See also
- Azaria Chamberlain disappearanceAzaria Chamberlain disappearanceAzaria Chantel Loren Chamberlain was a nine-week-old Australian baby girl, who disappeared on the night of 17 August 1980 on a camping trip to Uluru with her family. Her body was never found. Her parents, Lindy and Michael Chamberlain, reported that she had been taken from their tent by a dingo...
- Coyote attacks on humans
- Kenton Joel Carnegie wolf attackKenton Joel Carnegie wolf attackKenton Joel Carnegie , was a Canadian geological engineering student. A judicial inquest carried out by the Provincial Government of Saskatchewan in 2007 concluded that he was killed by wolves on Tuesday 8 November 2005 at Points North Landing, Saskatchewan, Canada...
- Taylor MitchellTaylor MitchellTaylor Josephine Stephanie Luciow, known by her stage name Taylor Mitchell, was a Canadian folk singer. She is the only adult person, and second person overall known to be fatally attacked by coyotes.-Personal life:...