Coyote That Bit Toddler On Cape Beach Tests Negative For Rabies

PROVINCETOWN, MA — A coyote that bit a 3-year-old girl on a popular Cape Cod beach on Wednesday night has tested negative for rabies, officials with the National Park Service said.

The attack happened around 8:30 p.m., at North Herring Cove Beach within the Cape Cod National Seashore. The child was taken to Cape Cod Hospital, but officials said her injuries weren't life-threatening.

Officials said park rangers shot and killed the coyote responsible for the bite. After the coyote was shot, it ran into thick dune vegetation and died. Park rangers found the body Thursday morning about 50 yards from where the animal was shot and had the coyote tested for rabies. The test came back negative.

Park rangers say they have responded to several incidents this summer, where coyotes acted aggressively towards people in attempts to get food.

NPS says the erratic behavior starts with people feeding coyotes intentionally by leaving food out, or accidentally by not removing food scraps from the beach.

They say coyotes then become habituated and bold in attempts to obtain food.

"When wild animals lose their fear of people, they behave unpredictably and aggressively, resulting in injuries to people and a sad ending for the habituated animal," NPS said in a press release.

The NPS warns not to feed any wild animal and to alert rangers of coyote sightings to the dispatch center at 617-242-5659.