AI Generated Image
Coyote recently attacked resident and dogs in Great Falls, county says
FFXnow • • health
Key Points:
- Fairfax County officials warn Great Falls residents about a potentially rabid coyote that attacked multiple pet dogs and a person on June 18 along Utterback Store Road and Streamview Court, with the animal still not found.
- The injured person and pets sustained non-life-threatening injuries and received emergency veterinary care; no further coyote sightings or attacks have been reported since, but rabies has not been ruled out.
- Coyotes are territorial and may view unattended or loose pets as threats or prey, especially during mating (January-March) and pup-rearing seasons (March-August); residents are advised to keep dogs leashed and cats indoors.
- Residents who have been bitten or scratched by wild animals should contact the health department's rabies program, while pet owners suspecting contact with wildlife should reach out to the Department of Animal Services.
- Fairfax County typically diagnoses 40 to 60 rabid animals annually, with recent 2026 cases including a cat in Huntington and a kitten near Centreville, underscoring ongoing rabies risks in local wildlife.
