THIS is the terrifying moment a vicious coyote pounces on a helpless three-year-old boy and throws him to the ground.
Shocking footage shows the dangerous predator ambush the unsuspecting tot and violently biting him outside his home.
The attack occurred in a Los Angeles driveway as the boy’s family unloaded their SUV.
After sneaking up behind him, the coyote drags its victim to the ground and delivers a fierce bite to his leg.
It then goes for the child’s arm and appears to be moving towards his neck before being chased away.
“A 3-year-old child was bitten twice while family members were unloading a vehicle,” the sheriff’s office confirmed.
He was rushed to hospital with non-life threatening puncture wounds to his leg and torso.
“It happened in a split second,” the boy’s grandmother told KTLA.
“They only need a split second to attack, so please be aware.”
“I was so scared because I know how bad it could have been,” said mother Sarina Donohoo.
“My initial response was just, I need to get him away and I need to see if he’s OK.”
California cops have launched a hunt for the wild beast while warning community members to be vigilant.
A troubling pattern is beginning to emerge after DNA from a single coyote has been linked to two recent attacks.
Wildlife officers with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are working with police to find the aggressive coyote, combing through neighbourhoods in hopes of capturing it before another attack occurs.
Coyote sightings are common for locals, and the predators are often seen roaming the streets near homes, schools and parks.
Authorities have shared tips for how to stay safe in interactions – which includes making sure children are supervised outdoors and that pets are kept nearby on a lead.
They also advise residents to keep open food and bin containers clear of their homes and to contact police if they see an aggressive animal lurking.
It comes after another three-year-old child was filmed running for his life as a coyote chased hot on his heels.
In terrifying footage, the toddler can be seen at first running away from his house, before spotting the coyote.
Immediately realising his mistake, he turns around and makes a run for it.
The boy was distraught as he ran back to the safety of his Los Angeles home.
Just seconds after the toddler makes it inside, the large coyote appears, stalking him up the driveway in broad daylight.
Once the animal realised the boy was out of reach, it turned around and left the property.
The little boy could be heard screaming for his mother in the distressing audio of the ordeal.
He thankfully escaped the clutches of the wild animal unharmed, but his family has been left reeling.
