Tearful Mom Recalls NJ Coyote Attack On Her, Child In Stroller – Caldwells, NJ Patch

A coyote attacked a mother and her 4-year-old son while she was pushing him in a stroller in New Jersey on Thursday, police said. The coyote lunged at the mother and child, knocked over their stroller and apparently bit them, police said.

The mother, who only identified herself as Tatiana, spoke at a press conference on Friday and tearfully recounted the horrifying incident:

The incident happened at approximately 6:56 p.m. when Fairfield police officers were dispatched to the Fairfield Recreation Complex, located at 221 Hollywood Ave., to investigate a report of a coyote that just attacked two people, police said.

The initial investigation revealed that the 37-year-old woman from Fairfield was walking in the park and pushing her 4-year-old son in a stroller when the incident occurred. She was in the area between the tennis courts and the Fairfield Community Pool, which is adjacent to a wooded area, police said.

As she was walking, another individual who was also walking alerted her to the fact that there was a coyote walking directly behind her. When the woman turned around to see for herself, the coyote lunged at her, police said.

The victim fell to the ground and the stroller tipped over. The coyote then bit the woman on the back of her leg, police said.

The coyote then attempted to go after the child, biting him on his right leg, police said.

At that time, other individuals began to run towards the victim just as she was able to get up and pick up the stroller.

She attempted to flee but the coyote again attempted to lunge at her again. The coyote then ran into the adjacent wooded area, police said.

Both victims were transported to an area hospital for treatment and an evaluation.

The Fairfield Police Department immediately closed the recreation complex to all additional activities, which included a youth soccer game on the park’s turf field and a pick-up basketball game on the courts.

The New Jersey Conservation Department, the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Associated Humane Society were all contacted for assistance and responded.

Police officers then began searching the immediate area for the coyote. At approximately 8:36 p.m., Sgt. Frank Tracey was in the area of 244 Big Piece Rd. when he thought he saw a coyote traveling along a fence line, police said.

He exited his police vehicle with his M4 patrol rifle and made his way into the backyard. He initially noticed what he thought was a cat in the yard, police said.

A few moments later, a coyote emerged from behind a pool and began to aggressively approach the officer. In order to protect himself, the officer fired several shots, striking the coyote and killing it, police said.

The Associated Humane Society took possession of the carcass in order to conduct testing for rabies.

As this incident was unfolding, several residents along Big Piece Road notified the police that a resident’s Doberman Pincher was attacked Wednesday evening by a coyote. It is unclear if this is the same animal as the residents described.

Several Big Piece Road residents have reported seeing and hearing a large number of coyotes behind their homes.

“The Fairfield Police Department is still cautioning all residents in the area of Big Piece Road and all those who use the recreation complex that they still need to exercise great caution when walking around their yards or in the park,” said Chief Anthony G. Manna. “The police department intends to deploy officers with rifles in the park and at several scheduled events taking place at the community pool and a nearby school to assure the safety of the public as best as we can.”