Surveillance footage captured a coyote following a 3-year-old boy toward his home in Pasadena earlier this week. At around 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23, on Tamarac Drive, 3-year-old Salvo Bessemer exited his gated courtyard and headed for the driveway, hoping to give his father, Leonard Bessemer, a hug goodbye before he left for work, his father said. Salvo did not find his dad, who had left about five minutes earlier. Instead, he spotted a coyote in front of the house, Leonard Bessemer said. The boy then turned around and ran back toward the house, screaming for his mother. Video footage shows Salvo reaching the door, with the coyote following behind him. Audio captured Salvo’s mother, Aida Svelto, screaming when she spotted the coyote near the entrance. The coyote then turned around and trotted away. According to Bessemer, the animal did not immediately leave the area, but lingered nearby for a short time, watching the house through ivy on the property. Coyotes are frequently spotted in the neighborhood, Bessemer said. He sees one at least once a week while on early-morning runs and typically makes noise to deter them, especially when accompanied by the family’s chihuahua, Sam. Monday’s scare prompted Bessemer and his fiancée to take stricter precautions with both Sam and Salvo. “We made a rule that he’s not to go to the gate without one of us,” Bessemer said. “It might have gone differently if Salvo had been by himself.” Bessemer said he also plans to make sure Sam is always leashed when taken outside and that the front door remains closed as a precaution. Kevin McManus of Pasadena Humane said that while the video may appear frightening, the coyote did not demonstrate signs of aggressive or hunting behavior based on the footage. “The good news is everybody’s safe,” McManus said. Bessemer said he has noticed more coyotes in the area recently, including during daytime hours. McManus said this is likely due to mating season, when coyotes are more active and more likely to be seen outside of dawn and dusk. “People should make noise and try to make coyotes uncomfortable to scare them off,” McManus said. “Remember, we’re bigger than them.” McManus also advised residents to be extra cautious with pets during this season and to avoid leaving food or unsecured trash around their homes. Related Articles After imposing illegal Fourth of July fireworks fees of up to $300K, Stanton agrees to settle for much smaller amount Video shows burglary of big rig stopped at intersection in Chino Stepson of ‘El Mencho’ — the powerful drug lord killed in Mexico — was born in Santa Ana Man killed, second burned after trailer explosion in Colton Suspended Southern California lawyer sentenced to over 7 years in prison for bribery ...read more read less