Post by Itrapny on Apr 15, 2009 19:36:05 GMT -5
Coyote Warning in Niagara County
The Niagara County Health Department is warning the public about coyotes after a man was bitten in North Tonawanda.
The victim was walking home from the store around 10:00 p.m. Monday evening in the area of the old Wurlitzer Plant on Niagara Falls Boulevard, when he was approached by a coyote and bitten. The Health Department contacted the City of North Tonawanda and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation immediately after it was notified of the incident. It's not known if the coyote was rabid.
Any coyote encounters should be reported to the health department at (716) 439-7444 and to the North Tonawanda Police Department at 692-4111. Contacting both departments will allow the health and police departments to work together to address both, public health and public safety matters.
In New York State, rabies in coyotes is rare. Over the past ten years a total of seven rabid coyotes has been documented in New York State.
Niagara County Department of Health Director of Environmental Health James Devald issues the following recommendations to prevent exposure to rabies from wildlife and domestic animals:
1. Do not feed, touch or adopt wild animals, stray dogs or feral cats.
2. Be sure your dogs and cats are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations. Vaccinated pets serve as a buffer between rabid wildlife and man. Protect them, and you may reduce your risk of exposure to rabies. Dogs and cats that receive rabies vaccine after three months of age are protected for a one year period. Revaccinations are effective for up to three years. Pets too young to be vaccinated should be kept indoors. The Niagara County Department of Health will conduct the next free rabies clinic on May 16, 2009 at the Cornell Cooperative Extension on 4487 Lake Avenue in Lockport from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
3. Keep family pets indoors at night. Don't leave them outside unattended or let them roam free.
4. Don't attract wild animals to your home or yard. Keep your property free of stored bird seed or other foods which may attract wild animals. Feed pets indoors. Tightly cover, or put away garbage cans. Board up any openings to your attic, basement, porch or garage. Cap your chimney with screens.
5. Encourage children to immediately tell adults if they are bitten by any animals. Tell children not to touch any animals they do not know.
6. Report all animal bites or contact with wild animals to the Niagara County Department of Health at 439-7444 or 439-7430 after hours.
WGRZ-TV/wgrz.com/Niagara County Health Department
The Niagara County Health Department is warning the public about coyotes after a man was bitten in North Tonawanda.
The victim was walking home from the store around 10:00 p.m. Monday evening in the area of the old Wurlitzer Plant on Niagara Falls Boulevard, when he was approached by a coyote and bitten. The Health Department contacted the City of North Tonawanda and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation immediately after it was notified of the incident. It's not known if the coyote was rabid.
Any coyote encounters should be reported to the health department at (716) 439-7444 and to the North Tonawanda Police Department at 692-4111. Contacting both departments will allow the health and police departments to work together to address both, public health and public safety matters.
In New York State, rabies in coyotes is rare. Over the past ten years a total of seven rabid coyotes has been documented in New York State.
Niagara County Department of Health Director of Environmental Health James Devald issues the following recommendations to prevent exposure to rabies from wildlife and domestic animals:
1. Do not feed, touch or adopt wild animals, stray dogs or feral cats.
2. Be sure your dogs and cats are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations. Vaccinated pets serve as a buffer between rabid wildlife and man. Protect them, and you may reduce your risk of exposure to rabies. Dogs and cats that receive rabies vaccine after three months of age are protected for a one year period. Revaccinations are effective for up to three years. Pets too young to be vaccinated should be kept indoors. The Niagara County Department of Health will conduct the next free rabies clinic on May 16, 2009 at the Cornell Cooperative Extension on 4487 Lake Avenue in Lockport from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
3. Keep family pets indoors at night. Don't leave them outside unattended or let them roam free.
4. Don't attract wild animals to your home or yard. Keep your property free of stored bird seed or other foods which may attract wild animals. Feed pets indoors. Tightly cover, or put away garbage cans. Board up any openings to your attic, basement, porch or garage. Cap your chimney with screens.
5. Encourage children to immediately tell adults if they are bitten by any animals. Tell children not to touch any animals they do not know.
6. Report all animal bites or contact with wild animals to the Niagara County Department of Health at 439-7444 or 439-7430 after hours.
WGRZ-TV/wgrz.com/Niagara County Health Department