Wildlife agency says species unconfirmed; victim begins rabies shots.
CANONSBURG, Pa. — State wildlife officials are reviewing a Washington County report from late last week in which a woman says a coyote lunged and injured her outside her Claysville-area home. The Pennsylvania Game Commission responded after the incident and noted that true coyote attacks are rare.
The inquiry highlights the tension between fast-moving encounters and the slower process of verification. The woman, Brandy Williard, was treated at Canonsburg Hospital and started a scheduled series of rabies vaccinations. The Game Commission says coyotes live in all 67 counties and mostly target small animals, but people can be hurt when intervening near pets. Investigators did not recover an animal, tracks or video that would positively identify the species, leaving parts of the report unresolved heading into the weekend.
According to Williard, the confrontation began Friday night when her dogs refused to come out from under a truck in her driveway. As she rounded the vehicle, she said, an animal lunged and pinned her against the side panel. “I had my hands like a pretzel trying to get it off of me,” she said. She suffered cuts to her legs, arms and face. Paramedics took her to Canonsburg Hospital, where clinicians cleaned the wounds and began rabies prophylaxis.
The Game Commission said the available details could not confirm whether the attacker was a coyote, a feral dog or another wild canid. The agency reiterated that human injuries are uncommon but possible when someone steps between a predator and potential prey, including small dogs. Without a carcass or clear footage, officials said, species calls remain provisional. Williard insists she “knows exactly” what she saw and heard and said the animal’s behavior and sounds matched a coyote.
Coyotes have expanded across western Pennsylvania over decades, adapting to suburbs with patchy woods, creek corridors and curbside trash. Biologists say sightings often increase at night and during cooler months, when animals range for food and mates. The Pittsburgh region, including Washington County, reports periodic pet encounters but few direct contacts with people. Recent educational campaigns have stressed securing attractants and keeping pets close after dusk. Officials say feeding wildlife—intentionally or by leaving bowls outside—can habituate coyotes to yards and porches.
Williard’s rabies schedule includes a series of doses over two weeks after an initial round of shots injected around the wounds and into the arm, according to her account. Public health guidance treats any bite from an unknown wild canid as a potential rabies exposure. The Game Commission said it will log any new sightings near the neighborhood and coordinate with local authorities if patterns emerge. As of Friday, no animal had been trapped or tested, and no hearing or briefing had been scheduled.
Neighbors said they noticed porch lights on and fewer late walks this week. Williard said she is thankful to be healing and that her dogs were not injured. “I’m not going to let you eat my dog,” she said. “I was going to get eaten first.”
By Friday night, the case remained open with species unconfirmed and no further reports in the immediate area. Officials said they expect to provide updates if additional sightings or an animal capture occur in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated November 28, 2025.