Arlington animal service officers captured the coyote believed to have attacked three children in less than a week.
The city said on social media Thursday that an animal service officer and a police officer were monitoring drop-offs at a school next to Parkway Central Park "because of the aggressive coyote activity" in the area in recent days.
"The officers saw the coyote on a road near the park and said that it charged them," the city posted on X. "Together, the officers were able to capture and secure the animal."
The coyote will be euthanized and transported to the Department of Health and Human Services in Austin to be tested for rabies.
Arlington Animal Services captured a coyote this morning believed responsible for biting three children at Parkway Central Park in separate incidents. The coyote will be humanely euthanized and transported to Texas Health and Human Services in Austin for rabies testing. pic.twitter.com/R4aRDC5yV7
— City of Arlington (@CityOfArlington) February 15, 2024
The city said three children were bitten on the playground or in the parking lot at Parkway Central Park between Saturday and Tuesday. They were treated for injuries and "will all receive post-exposure rabies treatment."
The park will remain closed until further notice. The city is partnering with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Wildlife Services to determine how many coyotes are in the park and reduce the population to change pack behavior.
