A woman was attacked by a coyote in New Jersey as she was walking a dog in the backyard, according to police.
The 31-year-old woman, a nanny, was outside in the yard of the Woodcliff Lake home with a golden retriever around 1:50 p.m. Monday. The rear lawn of the house on Woodcliff Drive backs up to a wooded area, which is where the coyote appeared to have come from.
The wild animal bit the woman on her arm, leg and back, police said. The family’s 6-year-old dog was also bit on the leg. The homeowner then came out to yell, trying to fend off the animal, but it still went after the dog another time.
The coyote ran off immediately after the attack and has not been found. Police said the coyote was described as somewhat hairless. It was not known whether the animal has rabies.
The nanny was taken to the hospital to treat her injuries, but was released later in the day. Both she and the dog are expected to recover. The homeowner, who did not wish to speak on camera, said the coyote was extremely aggressive.
Authorities were urging people in the area to be on the lookout for coyotes and to remove any food sources that could attract wildlife. Police said coyote attacks on humans are extremely rare, hence the concern for rabies.
The chief of Woodcliff Lake police said it was believed to be the first time someone in the town had been bitten by a coyote. However, there were two incidents in nearby Saddle River in September, both of which involved people getting attacked while walking their dogs.
Anyone who spots a coyote in the daytime that doesn’t seem scared of humans is asked to call police or the New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife.
