Marblehead Jogger Bitten In Suspected Coyote Attack: Police

MARBLEHEAD, MA — A Marblehead jogger is recovering from a dog bite and the search is on to determine whether the suspected coyote may have rabies after an attack on Brown Street on the Neck on Monday.

Marblehead police said an Animal Control investigation determined the biting animal was possibly a coyote. Police said the woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the attack.

"We are asking the residents on the Neck to be aware and to report any sightings of coyotes they may see during daylight hours for the next couple of days," police said. "If the biting animal was rabid, its health would decline rapidly in the next few days. Rabies is rare, however, we would like to take extra precautions and be sure the public is safe.

"It's possible that this is an isolated incident and the coyote was startled by the jogger."

Anyone seeing a coyote in the area is asked to immediately contact Marblehead police.

Police said additional patrols from officers, Animal Control and the Environmental Police will be in the area in the coming days.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)