Published January 8, 2020

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — Lynnbrook Road resident Kerrianne Allain came face-to-face with a rabid coyote on Friday, Dec. 27.

Allain was putting away Christmas decorations when the coyote walked over to her driveway.

“At first, I thought it was my neighbor’s dog walking toward me until I realized it was a coyote,” said Allain. “I slowly started backing up toward my house and the coyote just stood there. It was four feet away from me. It was pretty scary.”

Allain’s son, Hunter, was leaving the house at the time and she reacted quickly by jumping into his car.

THIS COYOTE seen on Lynnbrook Road on Friday, Dec. 27 tested positive for rabies. (Kerrianne Allain Photo)

“Thankfully Hunter was leaving,” said Allain. “He honked his horn several times and the coyote was just clinging to the car. Eventually, the coyote walked into a wooded area. At that point, I alerted my neighbors. They called Animal Control, who was already on their way.”

Health Director Kristin Esposito McRae said in a statement that the coyote tested positive for rabies on Monday, Dec. 30. The coyote was euthanized.

“Rabies is a serious disease and immediate consultation is necessary after possible exposures,” said Esposito McRae. “Any person who was exposed to the coyote’s saliva through a bite, scratch, or fresh wound, or got coyote saliva in their eyes, nose or mouth, has had a high-risk exposure. If you or someone you know may have had contact with this coyote, we ask that you contact the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) at 617-983-6800 (available 24 hours), or your health care provider. Following an exposure to rabies, disease can be prevented with prompt administration of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis.”

Allain said, “You could tell something wasn’t right” with the coyote.

“We live near the woods, so it’s not uncommon to see any type of wildlife here,” said Allain. “We will often hear the coyotes at night and sometimes will see them, but never this close and during the day. It could have been a very bad start to 2020.”

Esposito McRae said the coyote was “also seen between December 25 and December 27 in the area of Emerald Drive and Meghans Way in Lynn.”

“If residents have a pet that may have had contact with the coyote, contact either the Lynnfield Animal Control at 781-983-1804 or Lynn Animal Control at 781-552-2361 for further information,” said Esposito McRae. “It is also possible that the coyote could have spread rabies to another wild animal. If you observe a wild animal that is sick or acting strangely, do not try to approach it; call your local animal control official to report the animal. It is also important to ensure that your pets are currently vaccinated for rabies. This will help protect them and you if they are exposed to a rabid animal.”

NBC 10 Boston and WCVB-TV interviewed Allain, who often takes sports photos for the Villager, about the incident.

“I would rather be on the other side of the camera taking pictures than being interviewed,” Allain joked.

For more information on rabies, visit www.mass.gov/rabies.