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DENVER -
A Denver woman and her dog managed to fend off three coyotes that attacked them over the weekend. Jacque Lebitch had just taken her 7-year-old Labrador Taz out for a walk on Saturday evening when the animals came charging at them.
"I wasn't really paying attention and out of nowhere came these three coyotes, and I thought maybe they'll just walk by and, no, they were definitely out for him," said Lebitch, referring to the dog. "They must have been hungry, it's the only thing I can say. They must have thought, ooh, what an easy meal."
Both Lebitch and Taz suffered scratches and bruises in the attack, which occurred in the 3900 block of South Oneida in southeast Denver. A Division of Wildlife search has turned up no sign of the coyotes so far.
Coyote sightings have become more and more common in Colorado neighborhoods as the animals, often lured by food, lose their fear of humans. Just last month, a coyote attacked a woman walking her dog in Broomfield.
"I'm appalled," said State Sen. Joyce Foster (D-Denver). On the day of last month's attack, Foster sponsored a bill that would have forced the D.O.W. to step up coyote enforcement. The legislation was voted down in committee.
"Maybe they need to redirect some of their resources," Foster said of the state agency. "Maybe they need some more people out on the street... what if Jacque would have had a small child and a big dog?"
A D.O.W. spokesperson said Monday the agency is working on a coyote management plan with Denver and other Colorado communities. She said it's largely up to individual cities to determine how they handle the animals.
"I wasn't really paying attention and out of nowhere came these three coyotes, and I thought maybe they'll just walk by and, no, they were definitely out for him," said Lebitch, referring to the dog. "They must have been hungry, it's the only thing I can say. They must have thought, ooh, what an easy meal."
Both Lebitch and Taz suffered scratches and bruises in the attack, which occurred in the 3900 block of South Oneida in southeast Denver. A Division of Wildlife search has turned up no sign of the coyotes so far.
Coyote sightings have become more and more common in Colorado neighborhoods as the animals, often lured by food, lose their fear of humans. Just last month, a coyote attacked a woman walking her dog in Broomfield.
"I'm appalled," said State Sen. Joyce Foster (D-Denver). On the day of last month's attack, Foster sponsored a bill that would have forced the D.O.W. to step up coyote enforcement. The legislation was voted down in committee.
"Maybe they need to redirect some of their resources," Foster said of the state agency. "Maybe they need some more people out on the street... what if Jacque would have had a small child and a big dog?"
A D.O.W. spokesperson said Monday the agency is working on a coyote management plan with Denver and other Colorado communities. She said it's largely up to individual cities to determine how they handle the animals.
