A woman was bitten by a coyote believed to possibly have rabies while hiking in Westchester County on Wednesday, prompting officials to warn residents to remain alert.
The encounter occurred on the Old Croton Aqueduct trail near Warburton Avenue in Hastings, a wooded corridor within the Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park.
Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler urged anyone who spots the animal to keep their distance and notify police immediately.
“Make loud noises and slowly back away,” Amler said. “Because of its aggressive behavior, the coyote may be rabid. Residents should closely supervise children and pets whenever they are outdoors.”
The victim has begun emergency preventive treatment for rabies, according to the Westchester County Health Department.
Authorities said officers from Hastings and Dobbs Ferry, Greenburgh animal control personnel and police with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation are searching for the coyote.
Animals infected with rabies can display dangerous, unusual behavior, such as losing their fear of people, attacking without provocation or becoming unusually lethargic.
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Other potential warning signs include stumbling and frothing at the mouth, both commonly associated with the potentially fatal virus.
Westchester residents should immediately report stray or wild animals that appear to be behaving abnormally to a health care provider.
Any bite or other contact with an animal suspected of carrying rabies must be reported to the Westchester County Department of Health by calling (914) 813-5000. The hotline is available 24 hours a day.
Under state law, dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies and receive their required booster shots.
The warning in Westchester comes after officials earlier this month said a rabid fox may have been seen near Staten Island’s Mount Loretto Unique Area, a 241-acre nature preserve along the borough’s southern shore. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued the alert.
City data also showed a sharp rise in rabies cases linked to raccoons in the outer boroughs. Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island have recorded 20 cases so far this year, 57% ahead of last year’s pace.
By the end of August, Brooklyn had reported five cases, Queens six and Staten Island nine. The nine cases in Staten Island alone equaled the borough’s total for all of 2025.
