The animal rushed at the 6’3″ 185-pound dad, but stopped short of attacking him.

IRVINE – An Irvine father says a large, aggressive coyote charged him at full speed at the front door of his townhome before finally backing down just 3 feet away – and he’s convinced the predator was after his 1-year-old son.Nick Falangas found the coyote lingering at his front door, which he had left slightly open, around 1:15 a.m. Friday. The professional photographer was moving gear from his vehicle to his home, and it took several trips. When he returned from his vehicle, he scared it away, but it didn’t go far, he said.

The coyote backed away but did not leave, and was still acting aggressive, so Falangas rushed inside and closed his front door.

The 6-foot-3-inch, 185-pound man says he has often encountered coyotes while shooting photos in fields, and he said they usually are skittish. This one, which he estimated to be about 50 pounds, was different – as if it really wanted something and wasn’t going to give up.

He believes the coyote was after his son because the baby boy had been up crying with the flu, and his bedroom window faces the open field near Jeffrey Road and Smoketree Lane where coyotes are often seen. They have killed several of his neighbors’ pets, but he never thought his son would be in danger.

His wife was asleep in their bedroom, and the family’s loud air-conditioner was running, so she would not likely have heard the coyote approaching the baby’s room, he said.

Coyotes are predatory animals and like to feed on rabbits, domestic cats and even small domestic dogs, said Ryan Drabek, director of the county’s animal services department.

They hunt all year but tend to be much more active and visible in late summer and fall, he said. The county has not conducted a study to determine if coyotes are being more brazen this season compared to previous years, he said.

Irvine Police dispatch confirmed that a report of the incident was called in around 3 a.m. Friday, but animal control officers and the department’s spokeswoman could not be reached for details of what, if any, action was taken.

Contact the writer: tmartinez@ocregister.comor 714-796-7955

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