Coyote bites Massachusetts boy, 5, playing in backyard sandbox

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A coyote bit a 5-year-old Massachusetts boy who was playing in a backyard sandbox over the weekend.

The coyote encounter happened around 5:30 p.m. Sunday in Arlington, a suburb about 6 miles northwest of Boston, the Arlington Police Department said. 

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The boy suffered a bite on his leg and was taken to a local hospital. Police said the boy’s injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

"It’s very sad but not surprising," neighbor Mary Reeves told Boston 25 News. "We see a lot of coyotes in the area, during the day, not just at night. I wouldn’t go out at night for that fact. Just like last week, we saw one walk down the street. There are lots of them; it’s not like you just see one."

Residents of Arlington have reported numerous coyote sightings in their neighborhood recently. (iStock)

Police and wildlife officials attempted to track down the coyote during a search of the area. It was unclear whether authorities were able to locate the animal.

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Residents told local news outlets that coyotes in the area have appeared bolder in recent days.

"I think they’re becoming a little more comfortable around humans who are making a lot of noise," neighbor Hedrick Ellis told WBZ-TV. "It doesn’t seem to faze them as much."