An Arizona hiker recently had an unfortunate encounter with an animal that many wouldn’t even realize lives in the United States.
On March 23rd a hiker returning to from a day in Ash Canyon, Arizona returned to his vehicle and found a white-nosed coatimundi sitting on his hood. Coatimundi are member of the raccoon family. They resemble raccoon but have a slimmer body and longer tail and snout.
The hiker attempted to scare the animal away by shouting and waving his arms. The coatimundi responded by ripping the windshield wiper off his vehicle and attacking him. The coatimundi scratched and bit the man before he made into the safety of his car.
The hiker reported the incident and a USDA Wildlife Specialist was sent out to locate the animal and test it for rabies. So far it has not been located. The hiker is now receiving a rabies vaccine at a local hospital as a precaution and plans to return to his home in Tucson once his treatment is complete. Read the statement from the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office below.
Cochise County Sheriff’s Office Statement:
Coatimundi Attacks Hiker
On Sunday, March 23, 2025, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office was contacted about a wild animal attack in Ash Canyon south of Sierra Vista.
A USDA Wildlife Specialist responded to the area and could not locate the animal, however he will return later tonight/early in the morning to search again.
The man who was attacked advised that he was hiking in the area, and upon returning to his vehicle he observed a coatimundi on his hood. The hiker advised that he shouted and waved his arms to get the animal to leave at which time the animal tore off a windshield wiper of the vehicle before jumping down and attacking the man.
The man was able to get inside of his vehicle but not before the animal scratched and bit him, leaving injuries requiring medical attention. The man is receiving the rabies vaccine at a local hospital as a precaution before traveling back to his home in Tucson.
The animal will be tested for rabies upon locating it and we encourage people spending time in rural/mountainous areas to be aware of their surroundings and not attempt to engage any wild animal.
