Mahwah Woman Fights Off Coyote With Baseball Bat: Cops

MAHWAH, NJ – Police are urging residents to be on the lookout after a township woman was bitten several times by a coyote Friday evening.

Around 6:15 p.m., a woman was walking on Grenadier Drive when she encountered the animal, which attacked her, police said.

She was ultimately able to force the coyote away by striking it with a baseball bat she picked up in a nearby home. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was treated for bite injuries, police said.

On Sunday morning, the woman, Doreen Latargia Entrup, said she has about 14 puncture wounds following the attack and is still in pain.

"I wasn't going to use my hands, since he could've bitten a finger off, so it wasn't until I reached the garage did I figure out keeping an animal at a distance with a long stick would help stop the biting and attack," Latargia Entrup said. "At that point, my neighbor opened the door from the kitchen into the garage where I was able to run into her home."

In the days prior to the attack, Latargia Entrup said she had spotted the coyote a few times wandering around the neighborhood.

Police, along with Tyco Animal Control, checked the area but were unable to locate the coyote, police said. Additionally, the New Jersey Conservation Office was notified of the incident and said they would be following up with snares to try and capture the animal, they said.

Safety tips

• If you encounter a coyote, be as big and loud as possible.
• Do not run or turn your back.
• Make sure garbage cans are secured and no food is left out to attract coyotes.
• Do not leave small pets outside.
• If residents spot a coyote, call 911 immediately.