A routine afternoon turned into a heart-stopping ordeal for a Pasadena family when their three-year-old son was chased by a coyote right in their own driveway. The terrifying incident, captured on security camera footage, shows the moment young Salvo Bessemer encountered the wild predator while heading to the family car.
The Terrifying Chase
On Monday afternoon, Salvo Bessemer went outside ahead of his mother, Aida Svelto, following what she described as a common routine. As the toddler leisurely toddled through their front gate, a coyote suddenly appeared and began following him closely.
Security footage shows Salvo quickly turning back up the driveway, his face etched with fear as he began running toward his mother. "Mom!" he yelled, shrieking in terror as the coyote raced behind him and followed straight through the family's front gate.
Mother's Immediate Response
At that critical moment, the security camera lost sight of the boy, but Svelto could be heard screaming off-camera. "He grabbed onto my legs and I screamed," she recounted to ABC7. "Because I saw this big, giant coyote."
Salvo's father, Leonard Bessemer, checked the security camera footage after being notified of their son's frightening encounter with wildlife. "I was flabbergasted," he admitted, expressing his shock at seeing the predator pursue his young son.
Family's Shock and Concern
Fortunately, the little boy emerged completely unharmed from the terrifying chase, but the experience left his parents deeply shaken. Svelto expressed particular shock that a coyote would get so close and actively pursue a child.
"We have seen them, but they typically just stay on the street," Svelto explained. "So I really didn't feel nervous and now I'm nervous. This one was bigger and scarier, and I just really didn't think that he would go after a kid."
Expert Insights on Coyote Behavior
Coyotes are especially active in California during their mating season, which typically runs from January through March. The Pasadena Humane Society recommends specific actions if encountering a coyote:
- Look the creature directly in the eyes
- Yell loudly at the animal
- Throw rocks or sticks if necessary
According to wildlife experts, coyotes can grow up to 30 pounds and naturally view humans as predators. The National Park Service has reported that many coyotes now inhabit urban areas like Salvo's Pasadena neighborhood, making sightings increasingly frequent as wildlife adapts to human environments.
Safety Implications for Families
The incident has raised important questions about wildlife safety in residential areas. While coyote sightings have become more common in Southern California neighborhoods, direct encounters with children remain relatively rare but potentially dangerous.
The family's experience serves as a stark reminder for parents to remain vigilant, even during routine activities in their own driveways. As urban wildlife populations continue to adapt to human environments, such encounters may become more frequent, requiring increased awareness and precautionary measures from residents.
The Daily Mail contacted the family for additional comment regarding their frightening experience and any safety measures they plan to implement following the incident.
