Arlington on high alert after coyote attacks 2 toddlers
Two toddlers were attacked by a coyote in separate incidents in Arlington, officials say, and in one instance the animal tried to drag a 2-year-old girl away.
The first attack was reported at about 5:40 p.m. Sunday when a 2-year-old girl in her Epping Street yard was approached, bitten on the back and dragged by a coyote.
About 10 minutes later another 2-year-old girl was approached by the coyote in her yard in Summer Hill Circle and scratched.
Epping Street and Summer Hill Circle are about a half mile apart.
Both children were taken to an area hospital for evaluation. Their injuries aren’t believed to be life-threatening.
Officials believe that the same coyote was involved in both incidents. They are now trying to locate the coyote and will work to keep track of coyote activity in the area.
The incidents remain under investigation by the Arlington Police Department, Arlington Health and Human Services and the Massachusetts Environmental Police.
The Monday attacks in Arlington aren’t the only recent coyote incidents.
Last month, a 5-year-old boy was playing in a sandbox on Cutler Hill Road in Arlington when he was bitten by a coyote.
A young child was also bitten by a coyote on a Provincetown beach in early August.
While police and wildlife control continues the search for the Arlington coyote, officials said residents should never feed the animals and advised keeping pet food indoors and making sure dumpsters and trash areas are clean.
If a person encounters a coyote, they can try to scare it away, according to the conservation group Project Coyote, which suggested making eye contact and walking toward the animal using loud sounds and exaggerated motions to appear as a source of danger.
Scaring a coyote away is called hazing. People should not haze a coyote if it is sick or injured, or during the time period of March through July as breeding peaks in early spring.
Coyotes can thrive in urban, suburban and rural areas, according to MassWildlife. They eat small animals, birds, insects and fruits or whatever food may be available to them.
Male coyotes can weigh up to 60 pounds. The animals are active all year and do not hibernate.