On Friday, a Rhode Island hiker killed a rabid coyote with his bare hands after being attacked and bitten on the leg, and authorities believe the same coyote was involved in the attack on another human.
The man was hiking in the woods in Johnston, a town about 10 miles west of downtown Providence, when the attack occurred.
According to the Johnston Police Department, the man held the animal by the neck and cut off its air supply. Authorities have not released the man’s identity.
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) transported the carcass to a testing facility, and the Rhode Island Institute of Health (RIDOH) confirmed the rabies diagnosis.
The Rhode Island DEM announced Thursday that the same coyote is believed to have attacked a dog walker in nearby Scituate.
“We encourage anyone who may have had contact with a coyote in Scituate and Johnston to call the RIDOH Infectious Disease Division,” said Rhode Island State Veterinarian Dr. Scott Marshall. stated in the press release.
“If pet owners in these two areas believe their pet has had contact with a coyote, please call or visit your veterinarian,” Marshall said.
Under normal circumstances, it is unusual for coyotes to attack humans. This is the third case of a rabid coyote reported in Rhode Island since 1994, officials said.
