Coyote Bites Little Girl At Lake Las Vegas, Henderson Police Issue Warning
Coyotes are coming up to people and biting them, according to the Henderson Police Department.
On Facebook, Henderson Police posted a warning about interacting with wildlife.
“The Henderson Police Department wants to let all our citizens know to STOP feeding wildlife and encouraging wildlife encounters,” the post reads.
Further, the police department said they’ve seen a number of coyotes approaching people and subsequently biting them.
A Coyote Bit A Little Girl, Fox 5 Reports
According to Fox 5, coyotes have bit four people in the last three months. Two incidents happened in January.
Fox 5 further reported that a coyote bit a little girl outside of Lake Las Vegas Village Grocery Store. Another happened when a woman sat on a bench in the village.
Why Is The Coyote Problem Happening In Las Vegas?
In May, a woman said a coyote kill her cat, according to News 3. This lead to many other people sharing similar stories about gruesome coyote attacks among their pets.
A conservation education supervisor for the Nevada Department of Wildlife told 8 News Now that due to developments and the city’s barriers increasing, we have mingled more with the wildland-urban interface. Think of the wildland-urban interface as the “border” between pure wilderness and human development.
This essentially has lead to less food for coyotes. The conservation education supervisor even said to 8 News Now, “We don’t have the groceries out on the desert floor.”
Although it’s rare for a coyote to have rabies, it’s still possible.
“The CDC, USDA, and state governments collect data on confirmed rabies cases all over the country. Bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and feral cats are consistently among the most common victims of rabies (though these cases are still relatively few). Coyotes rank at the very bottom of the statistical list, near rabbits and beavers and behind cattle and deer,” For Fox Sake Wildlife Rescue, an animal sanctuary, reports in an article.
Despite this low statistic, it’s best to avoid interaction with a coyote at all time. And if you get bit, we definitely recommend an immediate trip to the hospital. Fox 5 reports that coyotes are losing fear of humans, which causes more biting and aggressive behavior. The loss of fear happens when people feed coyotes.
It’s important to avoid feeding coyotes and to avoid creating conflict. If you see an aggressive coyote, it’s best to report it immediately.
Fox 5 also reports that there’s also been discussion and consideration by the City of Henderson to cite and fine people up to $600 for feeding animals and ignoring warnings.