Students, staff and residents in Poughkeepsie are on high alert after Marist College reported a coyote is believed to have bitten a student on the leg on the college campus.

Marist officials say the student was assisted by security, treated for the bite and is OK.

The college says it is working with police and a local contractor to locate, identify and safely remove the animal.

It is unknown if the animal is rabid.

Aggressive coyotes have been seen in and around Poughkeepsie and the Hyde Park area since September.

Officials are reminding people to keep themselves and their pets away from wild animals.

If there is any physical contact between a coyote and a person or pet, people are asked to report it as soon as possible to the following phone numbers:

 - 845-486-3404 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

- 845-431-6465 on nights, weekends and holidays