Rutgers Coyote Attacks: Officials Say Animal May Have Rabies

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ —State wildlife officials are working under the theory that it is one single coyote that is behind the multiple attacks near Rutgers University, and that the coyote is sick, possibly with rabies.

Both attacks happened very close to Rutgers Preserve, a 360-acre wooded natural area on the Rutgers' Piscataway campus. The state set up multiple traps within the Preserve after the first person was bitten, last Thursday. Should the animal be caught, it will have to be euthanized and have its carcass sent for rabies testing, said wildlife officials.

"A normal healthy coyote will run away. They really have a natural fear of people and don't like to be around people," said Dave Golden, the Fish & Wildlife Director for the state of New Jersey. "But coyotes can get rabies and when they get it, they lose that natural fear of people. They will bite at objects, even inanimate objects."

"There could be multiple coyotes," he said. "But with this behavior we suspect it's a single coyote that is causing this problem."

Golden is part of a team of biologists and wildlife experts with the state Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) that have been on the ground at Rutgers Preserve since the first person was attacked last week.

Both attacks happened at night and while the victims were walking alone.

In the first, on Thursday, Nov. 14, a student was attacked at 4 a.m. while walking near the dorms; he said a coyote ran out of the tree line and sunk its teeth into his leg, breaking the skin. The student was just yards from the Livingston dorms when he was bitten. He had to be taken to a hospital for treatment.

In the second, at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 18, a man unaffiliated with Rutgers said a coyote ran out and attacked him from the rear. In that case, the coyote only tore at his pants leg, and did not break his skin.

The state DEP set up cable-restraint traps throughout Rutgers Preserve. Golden described the traps as not harmful to the coyote.

"It's a small noose the animal walks through. When it walks through, its head can go through but the shoulders cannot," he said. "It's a non-locking restraint. It works like a leash that won't let them leave the area. It doesn't hurt them, but it does keep them alive."

However, once state DEP workers trap the coyote, it must be put down, he said.

"In the interest of public safety, the animal unfortunately will have to be euthanized and then we will test it for rabies," he said. "In order to test for rabies, we must euthanize the animal."

Golden stressed there is a strong possibility the animal could die before that, especial if it is already sick.

"If animals are exhibiting aggressive behavior because they are sick, they usually don't have much time left," he said. "When they reach that point they may only be alive for another week or so because the disease takes over and ultimately kills them."

Golden also said that his team scoured the Preserve and found what they thought might have been a coyote den last week — but they can't be sure.

"There were a lot of signs of coyotes, but it might have been a den for a fox or another species," he said. "We just can't be certain it was a coyote."

Meanwhile, Rutgers campus police have closed all access to Rutgers Preserve. If anyone in that area of Piscataway comes across a coyote they are advised to make themselves look as big as possible. Rutgers police warned students and teachers not to walk alone, especially near the woods at night.

"If you are on your bike, keep the bike between you and the animal. If you are walking, grab a big stick," said Golden. "If an animal appears sick or aggressive, absolutely keep your distance. We are trying to develop a strategy to capture this coyote."

State DEP teams will be on the ground at Rutgers Preserve for another week trying to capture the coyote.

First Patch report: Coyote Bites Man Near Rutgers Campus, Police Say (Nov. 14, 2019)

Second Rutgers Coyote Attack In Less Than A Week (Nov. 19, 2019)