Possible Coyote Attack In Lakewood

LAKEWOOD, OH — A woman and her dog were attacked by an animal in Lakewood on June 21. Police said Animal Control are investigating to determine if they were attacked by a coyote or a loose dog.

It was initially believed that a coyote attacked the woman and her 4-year-old Border Collie-Labrador mix. That has since been cast into doubt, police indicated. The resident's dog had a badly lacerated ear from the attack, according to police.

The attack appears to have happened at about 3 a.m., according to police call logs. The woman and her dog were walking on Clifton Boulevard, when the animal ran up and attacked.

The woman suffered some scratched knees during the incident, but declined medical attention from emergency services. Animal Control is investigating the incident.

The city noted on its website that there has never been a recorded attack by a coyote on a human in Lakewood. However, the animals have spent so much time around humans that they have been conditioned not to fear residents.

It's possible to haze and scare off a coyote. Here's a video from Public Health in Madison in Wisconsin on how to haze a coyote and condition fear in the animals:

Photo from Rick Uldricks, Patch