Altamonte Springs, Fla. – A man was injured after a coyote attack in a residential neighborhood while walking his service dog Wednesday night.
Chris Mack said he was taking his 3-year-old service dog for a routine evening walk along Leatherwood Drive in the Country Creek neighborhood when he saw multiple coyotes approaching from a nearby yard.
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“Normal as can be until we got right around to this corner right here,” Mack said.
Mack has visible injuries to his face, arm, and hand. He said he had no choice but to fight off the coyotes.
“By the time he was already up here, I’m just swinging,” he recalled. “I caught the edge of his tooth right there.”
As the attack unfolded, Mack said his first thought was for his dog, who ran off but eventually returned to him.
Following the attack, Mack called for an ambulance and was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors ensured he was vaccinated for rabies.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed it is aware of the incident and is investigating. In a statement, the agency urged the public to report wildlife encounters. Their website also notes that while coyotes are generally shy and elusive, sightings and interactions in Florida have become more frequent.
Resident Daniel Vhets advised neighbors to take extra precautions.
“Watch your kids because they will drag a kid off, and you won’t even know it,” he warned.
Authorities encourage residents to remain vigilant and report any unusual wildlife behavior to the FWC. The Wildlife Alert Hotline number is 888-404-FWCC (3922).
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