A coyote sank its teeth into a Fairfield woman and one of her two small dogs Monday afternoon as she walked through a heavily wooded stretch of Catamount Road, and just streets away, on Fencerow Drive, another coyote reportedly tried to bite someone in a separate encounter. The back-to-back incidents prompted town officials to issue a fresh warning to residents this week about how to stay safe around the animals.
The Catamount Road attack unfolded as the woman was out walking her dogs, according to ABC7 New York, which reported the coyote appeared fixated on one of the dogs as the confrontation escalated. Both the woman and her dog were bitten in the process, the outlet reported, describing the scene as, “The dog was getting, you know, bit and so forth.” The station noted that coyotes are commonly seen in that part of Fairfield because of the large, connected tracts of open space behind area homes.
Fairfield Animal Control and the Fairfield Police Department confirmed the two separate incidents in the Catamount Road and Fencerow Drive areas, according to the Hartford Courant. One incident resulted in a person being bitten, the paper reported, while the second, unrelated encounter on Fencerow Drive involved an attempted bite, according to News 12 Connecticut. Officials said the pattern marks a significant change from the coyote activity previously reported in town, per that same News 12 account.
Police Say the Coyote Was Euthanized — Though One Report Says It Was Shot
Fairfield Police Sergeant Jenna Wellington said the coyote involved in the incidents was euthanized, as reported by the New Haven Register. A separate report from WFSB, however, stated that authorities shot and killed a coyote after weeks of handling coyote encounters in town — a discrepancy in the reported method that has not been resolved between the two accounts.
Fairfield Animal Control and police are actively monitoring the situation, the Hartford Courant reported. Residents with concerns can reach Fairfield Animal Control at 203-254-4857 or the Fairfield Police Department at 203-254-4800, according to the same report.
Why Coyote Sightings Tend to Spike This Time of Year
Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has said coyote sightings typically increase during this stretch of the year because pups are leaving the den, according to News 12 Connecticut, which quoted officials saying, “It's the result of the pups leaving the den, so we generally see more this time of year.” DEEP also says it's not uncommon to see coyotes during daylight hours, and that alone should not be taken as a sign the animal has rabies, per the New Haven Register.
Officials are urging Fairfield residents to use caution around coyotes generally. DEEP experts advise keeping dogs on a leash while walking, not letting pets run free, and never leaving animals outside unattended. Fairfield Police and Animal Control are also telling residents not to approach, follow, corner or otherwise interact with coyotes they encounter.
What to Do If You Encounter a Coyote
Residents are advised to avoid feeding coyotes or other wild mammals, whether intentionally or not, and to clean up debris around bird feeders and fallen fruit that can draw the animals closer to homes. If a coyote is encountered, DEEP recommends making loud noises, throwing a stick, or waving your arms to scare it off — and cautions against running or turning your back on the animal. DEEP officials are also asking anyone who spots a coyote acting aggressively or showing signs of rabies, such as lethargy, staggering or seizures, to report it to authorities.
This is not the first aggressive coyote encounter Fairfield has dealt with recently. The Catamount Road attack came three weeks after another unusually aggressive coyote attacked multiple dogs in a different part of town, according to ABC7 New York, and a separate report from WTNH described a coyote approaching people, vehicles, homes and dogs of varying sizes, including larger dogs, over several days.
Other Connecticut Towns Have Seen Similar Encounters
Fairfield isn't alone in dealing with aggressive coyotes this year. In Watertown, a 13-year-old and the child's father were both bitten by a coyote, according to News 12 Connecticut, while in Westport a coyote approached and lunged at a dog before the owner managed to get back inside with the pet unharmed. In Ridgefield, police said an aggressive coyote bit a resident before an animal control officer was able to “contain it, and destroy it,” according to WTNH.
Connecticut's DEEP notes that town animal control officers play an important role in educating residents about the risks coyotes can pose, including information on rabies and pet safety, according to the agency's Living with Coyotes guidance. For now, Fairfield officials say they will continue monitoring the situation as residents are urged to take precautions around pets and property.
