ESCONDIDO, Calif. (KGTV) -- An Escondido security guard has a warning about coyotes.

Daniel Schwab was on patrol at an apartment complex on Fig near East Lincoln Parkway around 2 a.m. Saturday when something grabbed him from behind.

"About to walk right and that's when I got snagged, right on the back of my foot," said Schwab, who didn't realize right away that it was a coyote.

"I was like oh crap. I turned around and coyote was freaking taking off after it got me on the foot," said Schwab.

Fortunately, his work boots prevented the coyote from breaking his skin.

"It was a quick bite, and for me, I think it was a bite out of fear. I scared it, like I was saying, if it was a kid it would have been a lot worse ," said Schwab.

Schwab has been a security guard in the area for six years. He fears the coyotes are getting more comfortable in urban neighborhoods. He says the parking lot he was patrolling is surrounded by a six foot fence.