Mischievous Jackal Terrorizes Laytonsville Family

The Mooring family in Laytonsville is on edge after several terrifying interactions with a jackal roaming the Jones Farm Park area. Jackals are medium-sized canids native to Africa and Eurasia.

The Laytonsville jackal is a young female and was likely bred locally for domestication, wildlife officials say. They do not believe she poses any threat to humans but caution against provoking her.

While not dangerous, the juvenile jackal's playful aggressiveness has sent several neighborhood children running in tears. "The jackal knocked my son over, grabbed his toy, and just took off," Topher Mooring told the Montgonion.

Mooring says the jackal is fixated on his family's new puppy. "Every time it goes outside, the jackal chases the puppy relentlessly," he said.

The Laytonsville Jackal plays with the Mooring family’s dog (photo credit Topher Mooring)

A few neighbors said their encounters with the jackal were sweet and affectionate, but Mooring cautions them not to be fooled, especially around food. "She ripped an ice cream sandwich right out of my hand and nearly took three fingers too."

The cunning and elusive jackal has been impossible to trap. Jackals can run in short bursts of tremendous speed and rarely break to rest. “The jackal is exasperating.  She follows my son everywhere.  Every time you turn around, she’s right there,” Mooring laments.

Wildlife officials have given up on trapping the jackal and recommend residents use locally available coyote deterrents to keep the jackal in check. Mooring hopes officials reconsider. He says his son is traumatized by the jackal, and it may take a lifetime of therapy to overcome the damage