Coyote bites female jogger

A coyote bit a woman jogging near the Griffith Park carousel, leading park officials to repeat their warning that people feeding animals in the area could prompt such attacks.

The 25-year-old woman, who was not identified, was bitten at 8:40 a.m. Tuesday near the merry-go-round, which is on the park’s eastern edge near the tennis courts and just south of the golf course.

Even though the bite was described as a small puncture wound, a park ranger advised the woman to seek medical treatment. An incident report noted that nearby trash cans had been emptied and there was no food, possibly leading the coyote to act aggressively.

Chief Park Ranger Albert Torres said the woman was caught by surprise. “She didn’t notice the coyote; the coyote noticed her,” he said

-- Andrew Blankstein