3 coyotes euthanized in Henderson after 2 women attacked on trail | Henderson

Officers shot the animals but were only able to recover the carcass of one, which was tested for rabies by Henderson Animal Control, said Doug Nielsen, environmental education officer for the Department of Wildlife.

The other two animals probably died in dense vegetation, Nielsen said.

The women were bitten in the early morning hours of July 7 and July 12 on the trail between Green Valley Parkway and Valle Verde Drive, the department said. The women were treated at hospitals for bite wounds to their legs, the department said.

Coyote attacks on humans are “extremely rare” and are usually the result of feeding on other animals, the agency said. “Surprisingly, there was nothing in the area to indicate that feeding activities contributed to this incident, making the bites even more unusual.”

The sprawling Pittman Wash is a natural waterway in Las Vegas’ flood control network and a popular recreation area, but it also serves as a migration corridor for wildlife, where predators hunt rabbits and quail, Nielsen says.

Following the attacks, the department put up temporary signs to warn the public about coyote activity and is working with the city of Henderson to put up more permanent signs, Nielsen said.

Representatives of the Department of Conservation warned against feeding the wild animals and gave tips on how to keep people safe when encountering coyotes.

They advise keeping children and pets close, not cornering the animals, turning away or running away. Coyotes can be scared off by thrown objects and by people who appear “large and loud,” the agency said.

Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at [email protected].