ROYALSTON, Mass. -- A man who was hiking in Royalston was attacked by a coyote, officials said Wednesday.

NewsCenter 5's David Boeri reported that some residents are concerned that the incident is indicative of a wider problem.

"The fact is the coyotes need to eat. We don't blame the coyotes at all, but since the elimination of trapping about 10 years ago, the coyote population has soared. It boomed," resident Chet Hall said.

On Monday night, three coyotes crept up to a hiker who was cooking dinner.

"He made some noise with some wood hoping to scare them off. At which time, the closest coyote charges him, grabbing him by his left arm. He begins to shake him. He felt like the animal was trying to pull him down," Royalston Police Department Chief Curtis Deveneau said. "I believe he is being inoculated with the rabies vaccination."

Residents said that the coyotes are preying on pets and livestock. Hall said that he's lost a horse, cow and other livestock to coyotes.

"We've shot 87 in the past four and a half years," Hall said. "Eighty-seven on my property."

Police are warning people about the coyote that attacked the hiker.