Ottawa police are investigating a potential coyote attack in a south-end community last month.
The Findlay Creek Community Association has posted a warning about the Oct. 24 evening incident after a mother contacted them, saying her 14-year-old daughter had been bitten by what she suspects was a coyote while in a park.
“(She was) bit in her leg, behind the knee,” said the mother in an e-mail, who declined requests to appear on-camera.
“She’s on a serial vaccine program for rabies because the animal was wounded, it was walking on its three paws.”
Ottawa police said they can’t verify that it was a coyote, but that’s how it’s being treated.
“We want to know right away if there’s a wild animal in the area because there’s risk associated to that,” said Cst. Nicole Gorham.
Coyote sightings aren’t unusual, but it’s very rare for them to attack a human.
“I remember a couple of years ago I saw one, but that they attack makes me nervous,” said area resident Melanie Folliniatis.
“Just the other day I saw three garbage bags left on the side of the road, and the next day they were all shredded,” said another. “It was probably a coyote, so we’re attracting them by leaving stuff out.”
A sick coyote was seen around the Greenboro Community Centre in 2010, prompting the local councillor to contact a trapper for help.
Police and councillors are now warning residents to stay alert.
“We’re going to look into it and investigate,” said councillor Steve Desroches. “Obviously if there’s a threatening animal, expect the city and the Ministry of Natural Resources to respond and protect the community.”
The Ministry of Natural Resources says if you’re approached by a coyote, make lots of noise and slowly back away instead of running.
With a report from CTV Ottawa’s Joanne Schnurr
