Coyote captured after attacking kids at Texas park

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WASHINGTON, Feb 17, (Agencies): A coyote, suspected of being involved in three separate attacks on children, was apprehended at a North Texas park on Thursday. Authorities reported on Friday afternoon that the captured coyote tested negative for rabies.

The city of Arlington disclosed that two additional coyotes were spotted in the vicinity of Parkway Central Park early Friday morning. In response, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Wildlife Services conducted a survey overnight, concluding that no coyotes were observed within the park itself. However, two coyotes were seen in the surrounding area, exhibiting non-threatening behavior, according to a news release. Despite the lack of perceived danger, officials decided to keep Parkway Central Park closed to the public until Tuesday, Feb. 20, as a precaution.

Arlington Police Department and Arlington Animal Services successfully captured the coyote inside the park around 7:30 a.m. Thursday, using a non-lethal baton round. Sgt. Eric Belisle, noting the unusual behavior of the coyote charging at them, described the encounter as atypical, even for someone who has encountered “hundreds of coyotes” on the job.

Although it remains uncertain if this particular coyote was responsible for the attacks on three children, authorities are investigating. The series of incidents occurred on different days, starting last Saturday, with subsequent attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday at the park near Jones Academy, an Arlington Independent School District fine arts and dual-language school.

The captured coyote was euthanized, and its remains were sent to Texas Health and Human Services in Austin for rabies testing. In each of the three coyote encounters, the injured children received medical treatment and were subsequently released from the hospital.

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