Scott I think that the coyotes pose a greater danger to your child than the bear. I keep a couple of dogs, and anytime I'm choosing a dog, part of the consideration is it has to be large enough to not be an easy mouthful for a coyote. I feel a lot better about my child playing in the yard, because I know if Wile E. shows up there'll be a hellacious tangle.
I'd be
much more worried about the suburban coyotes that you apparently have than the rural coyotes where I live.
AZrick posted this earlier.
http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/awm/docs/coyoteattacks.pdf
COYOTE ATTACKS: AN INCREASING SUBURBAN PROBLEM*
Robert M. Timm, Hopland Research & Extension Center, University of California, Hopland, California
Rex O. Baker, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (retired), Corona, California
Joe R. Bennett, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, Taft, California
Craig C. Coolahan, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, Sacramento, California
Introduction Coyote (Canis latrans) attacks on humans, once thought to be rare, have increased in frequency over the past decade. In expanding suburban areas such as those found in several counties in Southern California, residential developments are often near steep, brushy wildland areas. Coyotes inhabiting such wildlands are drawn into suburban landscaped environments that can support an abundance of rodents and rabbits, and where they can utilize water sources, pet food, household refuse, and even house cats and small dogs as prey.
Our observations indicate that in the absence of harassment by residents, coyotes can lose their fear of people and come to associate humans with this safe, resource-rich environment. This problem is exacerbated by people who intentionally feed coyotes. In such situations, some coyotes have begun to act aggressively toward humans, chasing joggers and bicyclists, confronting people walking their dogs, and stalking small children...