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Coyote Bites Kingston Man Blowing Leaves; Animal Control Urges Caution on Hillcrest Road
A coyote described as mangy and sick-looking bit a Kingston man on the leg Tuesday while he was leaf-blowing in his yard, prompting warnings for residents near Hillcrest Road's trails and river. The animal remains at large, and the man is receiving precautionary rabies treatment.
KINGSTON, Mass. â A man doing yard work in a quiet neighborhood was bitten on the leg by an aggressive coyote in the middle of the day Tuesday, according to Kingston Animal Control, prompting officials to warn residents to be on guard near the trails and river behind homes on Hillcrest Road.
The man was leaf-blowing in his yard when the animal emerged from the wood line and attacked, Police Chief Brian Holmes said.
"The coyote was in the woods line, and he was blowing the leaves in the direction of the coyote, which is something that you would ordinarily have the coyote take off," Holmes said, citing state environmental police. "And the coyote ran out of the woods line and started attacking his leg."
The man is OK and received precautionary treatment for rabies, but the coyote has not been found. Massachusetts Environmental Police were alerted Wednesday and have been patrolling the area; no new sightings have been reported to them.
It is not known whether the animal is rabid, but Holmes said it appeared unwell.
"This one I guess looked kind of mangy, kind of sick, you would see almost like a wet face, drunken appearance," he said.
Hillcrest Road backs onto trails and a river where residents frequently walk, often with their dogs, and officials are urging extreme caution. Residents are advised to carry pepper spray, keep dogs leashed, or avoid the area altogether if possible. Holmes also reminded the public not to hunt the animal.
Anyone who sees a coyote acting strangely or aggressively should call Kingston Animal Control at 781-585-0529.
The attack comes as coyote encounters with people and pets remain a recurring concern in suburban Massachusetts, where development presses against wooded habitat. Wildlife officials generally advise against feeding coyotes or leaving food and pet food outdoors, and recommend hazing the animals with loud noises or thrown objects to keep them wary of people. A daytime attack by an apparently sick animal is unusual and underscores the importance of reporting sightings promptly.