ROCKVILLE, Md. — A coyote has been put down in Rockville after three attacks took place Thursday.
The first attack took place at around 10 a.m. when officers responded to Winder Court to assist a 59-year old woman and her dog, who were attacked by a coyote. The woman was transported to a local hospital with bites and lacerations to her arms. She was treated and released.
The dog, who was bitten on his leg, remains under quarantine as a precaution.
A few hours later at 3:34 p.m., Rockville officers responded to a call for a 12-year-old boy who had been bitten by a coyote along the Upper Watts Branch Trail at Nelson Street and College Parkway. He had serious bites and laceration to both legs and was transported to Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he underwent treatment for his injuries and was released.
At 4:13 p.m., Rockville officers responded to the area of Redland Road at Gaither Road to assist a 39-year-old woman who had been bitten on her arm and hand by a coyote.
She was also transported with non-life-threatening injuries to a local hospital, where she was treated for her injuries and released.
Less than an hour later, a Rockville officer encountered the coyote near an underground storm drain along West Gude Drive. The coyote charged at the officer, who was forced to fire his firearm, striking and injuring the animal.
The coyote ran into a heavily wooded area near Aster Boulevard and Carnation Drive.
“Due to the aggressiveness of this animal, and the fact that three individuals were severely attacked, one being a child, we made the decision to put the coyote down out of an abundance of caution,” said Rockville City Police Chief Victor Brito. “Our utmost concern will always be the safety of the community and its residents.”
The coyote was taken to the Maryland Department of Health where it tested positive for rabies.
Montgomery County public health officials would like to talk to anyone who may have had contact with the coyote to discuss the type of contact and any future actions or treatments that may be needed. When left untreated, rabies is fatal in humans.
Please call the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Disease Control Program at 240-777-1755 if you think you may have had contact.
