Second Coyote Involved In String Of Attacks Still On The Loose In Washington

One coyote is dead and another remains on the loose after a string of attacks over the past week in Bellevue, Wash., wildlife officials said.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on Tuesday night announced that one of two coyotes associated with a string of attacks that began last week in Bellevue was lethally removed, while the other ran away.

At around 5:15 a.m. on March 6, a woman was sitting on her back patio in the Norwood Village neighborhood of Bellevue when a coyote approached from behind and bit her leg. The woman fled into her home as the coyote chased her. She later went to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

On the morning of March 7, a coyote entered an open garage in the Factoria area of Bellevue and bit a man on the leg. The man later went to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor injuries. 

Also on March 7, a coyote grabbed a backpack that a student had set on a sidewalk near Tyee Middle School in Bellevue while waiting for a parent after school, and ran into nearby bushes with it. No injuries were reported.

On March 11, WDFW officers received a report of a human-coyote incident with no reported injuries in the Factoria area. A coyote approached a group of children waiting at a bus stop that morning and “made attempts to bite them, ripping some clothing and attempting to take a backpack.” Adults intervened until the bus arrived.

Later that night, at around 7:50 p.m., WDFW officers received a report that a coyote bit a child on the hand in the Factoria neighborhood. The child was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. When officers responded to the scene, they located two coyotes, and lethally removed one at the scene.

The coyote that was killed is being evaluated at the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab.

The second coyote got away. WDFW said wildlife officers are increasing patrols in the area to locate it.

WDFW said it is presumed the same coyotes were involved in all of the incidents. Officials are reminding the public to keep cats indoors, to keep dogs leashed, and to avoid walking pets in the early morning and late evening in areas where coyotes are known to be. Small children should not be left unattended in areas where coyotes are known to be.