The coyote puppy that bit a Yuma resident last week did not have rabies.
The Yuma woman was having to undergo painful rabies shots immediately after the incident occurred earlier last week.
News of the young coyote being treated as a pet made the news in local and statewide media.
According to the report from the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, several families were trying to pet and play with the coyote pup just north of Yuma District Hospital & Clinics, on July 20, when the woman was bit.
The bite left just minor injuries, but the woman had to start going through rabies protocol.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers became aware of the incident after receiving a call from the doctor’s office where the patient was being treated.
Upon investigation, it was apparent the young coyote had been fed by people in the community, causing it to be habituated. When wildlife officers went to seize the coyote, which had been taken in by another individual to his shop, the coyote was wearing a dog collar and had a leash on it.
“This case should serve as a reminder to leave baby wildlife alone and to not feed wildlife,” Wildlife Officer Josh Melby said earlier last week. “The lady who got bit is going through rabies shots now, which is unpleasant and expensive.”
In these cases, wildlife is always the ultimate loser. The coyote pup was euthanized so a brain sample could be submitted to the Northeast Colorado Health Department for rabies testing.
The result came later that the young coyote did not have rabies.
Rabies is a fatal disease of the nervous system. The only to test for it is through laboratory examination of brain tissue. There is no effective treatment for rabies; however, a series of vaccinations and treatments immediately following exposure may prevent infection in humans.
The feeding of big game animals in Colorado, including coyotes and foxes, is illegal. Fine start at $100 plus surcharges, but the real consequences often come to members in the community, who may or may not even be involved in these illegal feeding cases.
When wildlife are fed by humans, they become habituated and expect to receive a food award from people. That can lead to aggressive encounters, and even attacks. Wildlife officials across the state see the problem frequently with deer, elk, bears, coyotes, foxes and more.
CPW reminds citizens that all wildlife is just that, wild, and they can act unpredictably. Wildlife experts urge the public to always leave young wildlife alone, and to never attempt to feed wild animals, whether directly by putting out food for them, or indirectly by having food sources around your home that they can access.
