Coyote attacks dog in Oakdale Nature Preserve
A coyote walks through the sand dunes during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am at at the Spyglass Hill Golf Course on February 11, 2010 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
OAKDALE, Minn. (FOX 9) - Oakdale officials are advising people not to walk their pets in a nature preserve after a dog was recently attacked by a coyote.
The attack happened on April 22 around 5:30 p.m. at the Oakdale Nature Preserve, a 200-acre passive outdoor recreation area with boardwalks, paved hiking and biking trails, picnic area, playground areas, and more.
City officials told FOX 9 that a coyote attacked a Pomeranian being walked on a leash, and the small dog sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Coyote sightings have been reported on the park's west side near Granada Avenue. Officials told FOX 9 that recently, "a coyote has approached domestic dogs barking and taking aggressive posture."
Given the recent attack, people are being advised to use caution in the nature preserve and avoid walking their pets in the area. There are no reports of people being attacked by a coyote at this time, according to city officials.
Oakdale police officers are securing the area of sightings, and the city officials said signs would be posted at park entrances, according to a post on the city’s Facebook page.
The Oakdale Police Department is working with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on the matter.