Coyote Attacks Three People

An animal curator says the coyote population is on the increase in western North Carolina.





The bite victims received rabies shots and are awaiting test results on the animal.


Asheville, NC -- Three people attacked by a coyote Monday were in good condition as they awaited the results of a rabies test.

The animal bit landscape worker Richard Zerbe on the nose while he and colleague Eric Parsons were working at a home. Zerbe and fellow bite victims Bessie Watkins and Audrey Ann Huska received rabies shots at Mission Hospitals, hospital spokeswoman Merrell Gregory said. The three were in good condition, Gregory said.

Animal control workers captured the coyote and sent a brain tissue sample for analysis after killing it.

The results of the rabies test were expected within three days, said Asheville police public information officer John Dankel.

"There are other diseases animals can have that result in this bizarre behavior, but the most obvious suspect is rabies," he said.

The coyote population has increased in western North Carolina as competitors such as wolves and cougars have disappeared in recent years, said Bob Fay, animal curator at the Western North Carolina Nature Center.



Associated Press/Asheville Citizen-Times
Jay Barber , Web Producer
created: 1/10/2006 12:58:41 PM
Last updated: 1/10/2006 1:15:55 PM

Hey Cook,
I liked the post. Points out a growing problem across the country. Coyotes are super sharp and adapt quick to living WITH people. These attacks are increasing, and virtually all are tied to animals that have taking handouts ( literally) from people in the local area. I'd be willing to bet the three workers were eating lunch, and the coyote just wanted a share.

Good post Cook!

I hadent heard about that. Was this just in the last few days?
Yes the coyote population has grown, all over the state for that matter. there have been proposed laws on hunting these dogs but nobody has come to a happy median. The month of Jan is when the public hearings for next years hunting and fishing laws will be proposed. i think the hearing in your area was on the 11 though . this was the proposed law.

* allowing coyotes, which have increased in area and population within North Carolina, to be hunted at night using red or amber lights outside deer season.


Not sure if it will go though. but they do know that the rising population is a problem and are working on the proper way to control it.

as for the people who got bit. i hope they are ok and were not badly injured. But they should have known that if the yote was that close to them than something had to be wrong with it. what were they thinking?
Then again it was in asheville. maybe they thought it was a german sheapard. lol

What we've seen here in Michigan is an increasing number of those living in suburban/urban areas complaining about coyotes in and around their houses and KIDS. Of even more concern to these folks is the loss of their cats and dogs to the yotes. These are one animal that even anti hunters support removing from the urban areas. Good luck in NC.

I hate the increase in these pests also, but I think they should test the brain of the guy bit on the nose also!!!