Earlier today, a pack of coyotes reportedly attacked 21 year-old Matthew Storer. The incident occurred while Storer was blowing leaves in a parking lot near Westbrook Country Club off of SR 39.
“I was blowing leaves and out of nowhere, a pack of coyotes came up to me and one of them latched onto my arm. I knocked it off and hit it on the snout and went to make some phone calls,” says Storer.
Storer went to MedCenrtral but did not receive puncture wounds. He received shots at the hospital for precautionary purposes.
“In fifteen years of being a wildlife officer, I have never heard of anything like this,” said Wildlife Officer Greg Wasilewski. He said this seems to be an isolated incident, because something like this does not happen often.
“ He [Storer] had his headphones on and his hood up so maybe [the coyote] didn’t associate him with being a human being,” said Wasilewski.
Although this incident is rare, the wildlife officer advises the public to have caution around wildlife because “they are unpredictable.”
The officer also pointed out that Richland County has a population of coyotes. A den has been identified near Harmon Street off Bowman Street, which is close to Hamilton Park. The park is set in a neighborhood community. According to the officer, a pack can be as large as 12 to 14 coyotes.
“In this situation, there were three coyotes, so we would have to take them all out if we got here in time to see them. It is very hard to do that though,” said Wasilewski.
Scare tactics
According to The Ohio State University, in some urban situations, coyotes can be encouraged to avoid yards through harassment, such as yelling, throwing objects, and waving arms, or by electronic lights or sounds.
