Washington Man Attacked by Coyotes

After moving two weeks ago to his Kent, Wash., home, Feron Scarberry got an unwelcome visit from a couple of hostile neighbors.

Scarberry was walking his dog in his backyard when three coyotes slid under a hole in his fence and attacked him, according to KOMO News. He said one coyote lunged at his face, which he blocked with his forearm, and then another of the coyotes locked his jaws on Scarberry's leg.

As a result of the attack, he had bites and scratches on his arms and legs that sent him to the emergency room for several hours, where he received 24 rabies shots in his arms, leg and hip. He is slated for more shots in the coming weeks.

While he wasn't too seriously injured, Scarberry said he remains worried for the children in the neighborhood, which is about 30 minutes south of Seattle.

"I love wildlife. I like looking out the deck, looking at them. But when they're starting to threaten the animals and people in the neighborhood, it's gone a little bit overboard," Scarberry told KOMO News. "I don't want any of the neighborhood kids to get hurt."

Scarberry's property backs up to a wooded area and a high school, which causes obvious concerns for young children and students in the neighborhood. Scarberry's son said he's seen coyotes roaming the woods behind his house on numerous occasions.

Sgt. Kim Chandler of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife told KOMO News that coyote incidents in the area are pretty much constant, as they pose a specific threat to small dogs and cats.