A woman was bitten by a possibly rabid coyote on a hiking trail in Westchester County on Wednesday – and authorities are now urging residents to be vigilant and stay vigilant.
The attack took place along Old Croton Aqueduct Road near Warburton Avenue in Hastings – a heavily wooded strip inside Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park.
“Anyone who sees the coyote should not approach the animal but should contact the police immediately,” warned Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler.
“Make loud noises and back away slowly. Due to its aggressive behavior, the coyote may become rabid. Residents should closely supervise children and pets when outside.”
The victim is receiving emergency preventative treatment for rabies, according to a news release from the Westchester County Health Department.
Hastings and Dobbs Ferry police officers, along with Greenburgh animal control officers and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation police, are combing the area for the coyote, authorities said.
Rabid animals often exhibit erratic and dangerous behavior, including a sudden lack of fear of humans, unprovoked aggression, or extreme lethargy.
Staggering and foaming at the mouth are also classic warning signs of a potentially deadly virus.
Westchester residents who see stray or wild animals acting strangely are urged to report it immediately to a health care provider.
All animal bites or contact with animals suspected of having rabies should be reported to the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000, 24 hours a day.
Rabies vaccination of dogs, cats and ferrets – with regular boosters – is required by state law.
Earlier this month, officials warned that a rabid fox may have wandered into Staten Island’s Mount Loretto Unique Area, a 241-acre nature preserve on the borough’s South Shore, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Troubling city data revealed that rabid raccoons invading the city’s outer boroughs have already resulted in 20 total rabies cases already recorded in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island this year — a pace 57 percent faster than last year.
By the end of August, the Big Apple had recorded five cases in Brooklyn, six in Queens and nine on Staten Island, matching the total for all of 2025.
Gn Health
