Things took an unexpected turn for a New Jersey woman when she took a family dog out for a walk in Bergen County. They found themselves face-to-face with a coyote. Footage of the incident was also caught on surveillance video. Police have also since issued a few warnings to local residents.
Video Showed The Homeowner Trying To Fight Off The Coyote During The Attack
The woman was described as a 31-year-old housekeeper. During the time of the incident, she was taking the family’s golden retriever out for a walk in the backyard, which had been described as a wooded nature preserve.
At around 1:20 PM local time, the woman and the dog were attacked by a coyote. Surveillance video captured the incident at the Woodcliff Lake home.
As seen in the video, the homeowner could be seen running outside to fight off the animal. The woman was reportedly left with open wounds on her shoulder, arm, back, and leg. The coyote then went after the dog, but it wasn’t seriously hurt during the attack. The coyote then took off.
The dog’s veterinarian, Dr. Dyan Muller, who lives across the street, shared, “That coyote really attacked that woman. That coyote is probably rabid. Everyone listening should be careful today,” noting that the dog was currently doing well. A report from NBC4 New York also claimed that the dog was bit in the leg.
According to the homeowners, the housekeeper was still shaken by the incident. She also had to receive a month of rabies shots. As the coyote hasn’t yet been caught, it is unknown if it is rabid or not.
Police Have Since Issued A Few Tips To Help Residents Avoid Further Incidents
Woodcliff Lake Capt. Chad Malloy also advised, “Keep pet food inside; don’t leave it outside. Keep your garbage cans locked, again clear any kind of heavy brush that’s in the area because they like to hide in that. Any bird feeders that knock off seeds attract small animals, which attracts coyotes… If you live near a wooded area, that’s where you got to be more aware of your surroundings, because obviously they lurk in heavily brushed areas.”
According to the chief of Woodcliff Lake police, this is believed to be the first time someone in the town was bitten by a coyote. However, similar incidents were reported in nearby Saddle River in September. Both incidents also involved people walking their dogs.
Police have since warned residents to be careful and keep an eye on their surroundings and their pets, especially during walks. Residents are also told to avoid leaving things around their homes that could attract coyotes.
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John Witiw has been a writer since at least 2015. He’s covered a variety of topics, especially when it comes to film and television.