New Canaan Animal Control is reminding pet owners to be on alert after a coyote grabbed a small dog Sunday.
Animal control said the dog and its owner were on Shady Knoll Lane around 5 p.m. when the coyote snatched the dog. The owner was able to frighten the coyote, which dropped the dog.
The bite left the dog with two punctures on the neck and ear.
This is the third reported coyote encounter in the area over the past month. Pet owners are reminded to watch their dogs and always have hazing tools on hand to scare away wildlife.
There have been multiple coyote sightings around Waveny Park, the train tracks and the Merritt Parkway Greenway.
Coyotes will attack and kill pets, especially small dogs and cats, but coyote attacks on humans are rare, according to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. If you encounter a coyote, experts suggest making loud noises and acting aggressively to scare the animal away.
