Coyote Attacks 2 In Westchester, Presumed To Be Rabid, Caution Urged

NORTH SALEM, NY — An attack by a potentially rabid coyote on two people has prompted officials to issue warnings, saying the animal fled and remains on the loose.

On Thursday, shortly after 5 p.m., North Salem Town Supervisor Warren Lucas posted a coyote warning for the Turkey Hill Road area and vicinity.

Lucas asked the public to be on the lookout for a rabid coyote who attacked two people walking on Turkey Hill Road (closer to Route 121) late Thursday afternoon. He said that one person was bitten with a puncture wound on their leg, while the second person was not injured. The person with the puncture wound was taken to the hospital for treatment, the supervisor said.

As the presumption was that the coyote was rabid, the person with the wound would likely receive rabies shots, Lucas said. The coyote reportedly also attacked the tires of a car that stopped to help.

According to the supervisor, town police made an effort to find the coyote in the woods after the incident but were unable to locate the animal.

The supervisor reminded residents that if their dogs do not have rabies shots, they should get them and check with the Town Clerk at 914-669-5577 to make sure that they have a valid dog license.

While coyote attacks are rare in Westchester County, a coyote that later tested positive for rabies attacked several people in Hastings and Yonkers in 2018.

Just a few weeks ago, the Rye Police Department warned the public, just hours before children went trick-or-treating, that "there have been multiple coyote sightings in the surrounding areas these past few days." Police posted a photo of a coyote that was taken near Osborn Rd. and Woods Ln. in Rye.

A week before Halloween, the Port Chester Police Department issued an alert that there were reports of a coyote in Lyon Park. They also said that there were reports of the same coyote as far downtown as Oak St. Police said that after a long chase, they were able to locate the coyote and get him back into a wooded area on upper King St.

In mid-October, the Harrison Police Department also issued an alert for residents to be on alert for coyote activity, especially in the Purchase area.

This past May, the Pelham Manor Police Department issued a coyote advisory about coyote sightings in both the north and south ends of the village. The day after, Mount Vernon police warned residents that a small dog was attacked by what was reported to be a coyote. Later that month, there were several coyote sightings in and around Mamaroneck. One coyote was even spotting going for a stroll on the Mario Cuomo Bridge bike path.

Residents can consult the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) website's best practices for avoiding conflict with coyotes.

There are a few common sense precautions suggested by the DEC to make sure man and beast are able to coexist peacefully.

Homeowners are warned to not approach the wild animals in any situation and to never feed a coyote. Potential food sources, such as bird feeders, pet food stored outdoors and refuse containers, should be secured so as not to attract unwelcome visitors.

Pet owners should not allow their furry friends to run free and parents are asked to closely supervise children outdoors.

In the unlikely event someone is approached by a coyote, they should not run away. Instead, it is recommended to be aggressive — this includes making loud noises, waving one's arms and throwing sticks and stones. Officials say these behaviors will almost always scare the animals away.

If you see a coyote that is acting "bold" or appears to not fear people, you can contact the DEC at 845-256-3098 or 845-256-3013.

SEE ALSO:

• Police Issue Alert About 'Multiple' Coyote Sightings In Rye
• Police Issue Alert About Coyote Venturing Downtown In Port Chester
• Police Issue Alert About Coyote Activity In Purchase
• Recent Coyote Sightings In Village Of Mamaroneck Rile Neighborhood
• Coyote Caught On Camera Using The New Mario Cuomo Bridge Bike Path
• Police Issue Alert After Dog Attacked By Coyote In Westchester
• Yonkers PD Tells Neighbors To Expect Increased Coyote Activity
• "Beware Of Coyotes!" Town of Bedford Issues Alert To Residents
• Pelham Manor Police Issue Coyote Advisory
• Rye Issues Coyote Warnings
• Coyote Shot In Westchester Tested Positive For Rabies
• Family Dog Killed By Coyote In Rye Neck