Following appearances in Cortlandt, Rye, Greenburgh and Peekskill, another coyote was recently recorded by a homeowner in Yonkers as it made its way through several backyards.
According to a WABC report, homeowners in Yonkers have expressed concerns for the safety of their children and pets as the number of coyote sightings in Westchester continues to rise. A brief video of the coyote spotted in Yonkers can be viewed by clicking here.
Police have cautioned that coyotes should never be fed, and if a coyote is spotted, one should be aggressive with their behavior, making loud noises, waving arms and throwing sticks and stones to seem like a greater predator.
Pets should not be allowed to run free, and they should never be fed outside, as the food may attract coyotes. Homeowners should also eliminate the availability of bird seed. According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, coyotes are attracted to the concentration of birds and rodents that come to feeders. If one does feed birds, waste seed and spillage should be cleaned.
According to police, fencing a yard may deter coyotes, and fences should be tight to the ground, extending six inches below the ground level, and brush and tall grass should be removed from properties to reduce protective cover for the animal. Officials noted that regulated hunting and trapping increases the “fear” coyotes have toward people.
Other information regarding the regulation of coyotes in the area is available from the DEC.
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