Kent man attacked by coyotes in his own backyard
By Kristen Drew Published: Dec 29, 2012 at 6:12 PM PST Last Updated: Dec 29, 2012 at 7:40 PM PST
KENT, Wash. - A local man was attacked by coyotes in his own backyard and spent most of Friday night in the emergency room.
Now he is now warning others to be on the lookout - and he's especially worried for pets and children in the area.
Faron Scarberry says he moved to Kent about two weeks ago and he's already facing an unexpected danger in the neighborhood.
"I love wildlife," he says, "I like looking out the deck, looking at them. But when they're starting to threaten the animals and people in the neighborhood, it's gone a little bit overboard."
Scarberry says three coyotes attacked him Friday night while he was walking his dog in the backyard.
"They come up toward my face, and I kind of blocked them and pushed them away, and that's when the one grabbed me by the leg," he says.
Scarberry spent most of the night in the emergency room - diagnosed with a coyote bite and scratches. He got 24 rabies shots in his leg and two in his hip.
"It didn't hurt me bad, but I don't want any of the neighborhood kids to get hurt," he says.
Scarberry's property in the Arbor Village neighborhood off Kent Kangley Road backs up to a wooded area and Horizon Elementary School.
The attack wasn't the first coyote sighting at his property this week. His son saw the coyotes a day before. Scarberry says they're coming into the neighborhood at all hours, and got into his backyard through a hole in the fence.
Sgt. Kim Chandler of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife says urban coyote issues are "pretty constant," especially this time of year as they go out looking for food.
"They rely heavily on fruit. All the fruit is gone now, so they're now in scavenging mode - cats, little dogs are a treat, and they'll eat them," Chandler says.
Chandler advises people dealing with coyote problems to keep garbage away and pets inside.
As for Scarberry - he still has appointments for more shots over the next three weeks.
If there's a coyote attack in your neighborhood or one showing aggression, you are urged to contact the Department of Fish and Wildlife. In some cases residents can pay to have the coyotes trapped and removed.
By Kristen Drew Published: Dec 29, 2012 at 6:12 PM PST Last Updated: Dec 29, 2012 at 7:40 PM PST
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KENT, Wash. - A local man was attacked by coyotes in his own backyard and spent most of Friday night in the emergency room.
Now he is now warning others to be on the lookout - and he's especially worried for pets and children in the area.
Faron Scarberry says he moved to Kent about two weeks ago and he's already facing an unexpected danger in the neighborhood.
"I love wildlife," he says, "I like looking out the deck, looking at them. But when they're starting to threaten the animals and people in the neighborhood, it's gone a little bit overboard."
Scarberry says three coyotes attacked him Friday night while he was walking his dog in the backyard.
"They come up toward my face, and I kind of blocked them and pushed them away, and that's when the one grabbed me by the leg," he says.
Scarberry spent most of the night in the emergency room - diagnosed with a coyote bite and scratches. He got 24 rabies shots in his leg and two in his hip.
"It didn't hurt me bad, but I don't want any of the neighborhood kids to get hurt," he says.
Scarberry's property in the Arbor Village neighborhood off Kent Kangley Road backs up to a wooded area and Horizon Elementary School.
The attack wasn't the first coyote sighting at his property this week. His son saw the coyotes a day before. Scarberry says they're coming into the neighborhood at all hours, and got into his backyard through a hole in the fence.
Sgt. Kim Chandler of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife says urban coyote issues are "pretty constant," especially this time of year as they go out looking for food.
"They rely heavily on fruit. All the fruit is gone now, so they're now in scavenging mode - cats, little dogs are a treat, and they'll eat them," Chandler says.
Chandler advises people dealing with coyote problems to keep garbage away and pets inside.
As for Scarberry - he still has appointments for more shots over the next three weeks.
If there's a coyote attack in your neighborhood or one showing aggression, you are urged to contact the Department of Fish and Wildlife. In some cases residents can pay to have the coyotes trapped and removed.
