Seems that yet again we have had a wildlife human encounter that was anything but good.
BOY INJURED BY COYOTE IN WELD COUNTY
DENVER, Colo. – A nine year-old boy from Erie suffered a minor injury Thursday afternoon when a coyote snapped at him on the Vista Ridge Golf Course in Erie. The boy and his brother were snowboarding and had stopped at the bottom of a hill at about 3:30 pm when the coyote approached, circled the boy, and lunged at him twice.
After the incident, the boy returned home, where his mother contacted the Erie Police Department to report the attack. She then took the boy to Children’s Hospital Clinic. He was released early Friday morning.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife worked with assisting agencies to track and locate the offending coyote. A coyote was found in proximity to the incident and subsequently killed. It has been sent to the DOW Fort Collins lab for testing, which is standard procedure after an incident such as this.
“Coyotes are naturally fearful of humans, but occasionally a coyote becomes aggressive and must be removed for public safety,” said Larry Rogstad, Area Wildlife Manager. “It is imperative that people report encounters with aggressive coyotes right away so that we can monitor the activity and intervene when necessary.”
Most conflicts between people and coyotes are due to someone feeding these wild animals, whether intentionally or otherwise. The DOW strongly discourages feeding of wild animals, including coyotes. Coyotes also cause concern for pet owners, as these animals view pets as a threat, prey, or possibly even a mate.
If a coyote approaches you:
–Be as Big, Mean, and Loud as possible
-Wave your arms and throw objects at the coyote
-Shout in a deep, loud and authoritative voice
-DO NOT RUN or turn your back on the coyote
-Face the coyote and back away slowly
-If attacked, fight back with your fists and feet
The DOW encourages members of the public who encounter an aggressive coyote to immediately call 303-291-7227. If the incident occurs after business hours, contact the Colorado State Patrol (303-239-4501).
To learn more about living with coyotes, visit the DOW web page, at:
http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/Mammals/CoyoteCountry.htm
The Town of Erie offers additional information on living near coyotes on their website. Visit www.erieco.gov and select “Coyotes – FAQs” from the Living in Erie section.
For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.
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