North Attleboro Rabid Coyote Attack: Woman Bit; Animal Shot

NORTH ATTLEBORO, MA — A North Attleboro woman was bit by a rabid coyote this week and police said they were forced to shoot and kill the animal. The incident happened just days after a coyote was seen carrying a dead cat in its mouth in Newton over the weekend.

The North Attleboro incident happened Monday at Water's Edge Estates, a senior community on East Washington Street. The victim, Judy Place, told WHDH the female coyote attacked her at about 10 p.m. outside her home.

“I had blood everywhere on my pants,” Place said. The coyote eventually let go and responding police officers shot the animal when it reportedly charged them.

Place will undergo treatment for rabies, which is curable in humans.

The attack was the first involving a coyote and a human in Massachusetts since a 2015 attack in Kingston, according to the state Department of Public Health.

"Attacks by coyotes on people are a rare and unusual event," DPH said in a statement Wednesday. "Coyotes live in rural, suburban, and urban areas throughout Massachusetts except for Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Coyotes thrive where people live because there is a lot of food available--including garbage, fruit trees, bird seed, and suet."

To prevent contact with coyotes, state officials recommended the following:

"Remove All Types of Food: Coyotes eat bird seed, suet, and the small wildlife attracted to feeders. They also raid garbage and compost piles. Secure garbage in plastic containers with tight fitting lids and keep them secure. Take out trash when the morning pick up is scheduled, not the previous night. Remove bird feeders.

Stay Outside With Your Pet: Pet owners should be present outside with their pets at all times and keep them under control, preferably on a leash. Unsupervised pets left outdoors are at risk of attack by coyotes or other animals. The presence of a human generally discourages coyotes."

A typical coyote looks like a 40-pound German Shepherd, but with longer, more dense fur and pointed ears. The tail is long and bushy and black at the tip. Their coat is usually a brindled gray, but can vary between creamy blond to red or nearly solid black. In the winter its coat becomes fluffier making the coyote look bigger.

When you see a coyote, experts advise to haze it. Shouting, blowing a whistle, banging pots and pans, or spraying a water hose at them all make it uncomfortable for the shy animals to be near humans and will help ensure that coyotes don't start to get too close or keep visiting your yard.

Previous:

Coyote Kills Newton Cat

Photo: A coyote seen carrying a dead cat in its mouth Saturday, November 18, 2017, in Newton, Massachusetts. (Credit: Joyce Hynds)

Jenna Fisher (Patch Staff) contributed to this report