Authorities are advising caution around coyotes close to the University of Waterloo following an incident where a jogger was bitten by one last week.
This occurred on Nov. 12 at about 6 p. m., when the Special Constable Service at the university received a report that a member of the community not connected to the school had been bitten on campus grounds.
The woman was jogging north along a path from Health Service Road to Ron Edyt Village. She “was able to kick the coyote and escape to safety,” according to a statement from the university.
She received vaccinations and went to the hospital for additional care. Hospital personnel informed public health; university staff notified police and the local humane society regarding the event.
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Seek medical help immediately, public health warns
The Region of Waterloo Public Health told that anyone who gets bitten by a wild animal should seek medical attention right away and follow up with public health. “At public health what we do is we deal with bites from animals, so a bite from an animal that is infected with rabies is the most common way rabies is spread,” said Marla Rocca, a manager in the health protection division for Region of Waterloo Public Health. Rocca explained that while public health officials can monitor domesticated animals, it’s not always possible with wild ones. “If someone is bitten by a wild animal.. we can’t observe or confine the animal at this time. The public health inspector will work with the person who’s bitten to ensure that proper post-exposure care is received, and this could include rabies vaccinations,” Rocca said. Last Friday, another sighting was reported by a university employee, but there was no encounter with the coyote. “Our campus is surrounded by wooded areas, which we share with urban wildlife,” stated the university on its website. “With winter approaching, fallen leaves increase visibility and access to food is limited, so sightings will be more common.” The City of Waterloo advises individuals to keep their distance if they spot a coyote. They recommend these safety tips: Stay calm and keep your distance. Never approach or feed a coyote. Be big and loud, stand tall, wave your arms, clap your hands, bang pots and pans. Keep dogs on a leash. Slowly back away; do not turn your back or run (running can trigger a chase instinct). Carry a flashlight to scare off coyotes at night. The city mentioned that people only need to report coyote sightings when there’s an immediate safety risk.Source link
