Coyotes Roam New Jersey Neighborhoods, Dodge Sprinklers

A New Jersey coyote, Via CBS

Coyotes have been spotted in New Jersey, possibly lured by the state's business-friendly climate, it's pristine shores or effective tourism campaign. Residents of Hackensack and Maywood are on edge after watching the wild animals traipse around their streets. One woman tells CBS that as she was putting her granddaughter in the car, "I came around the other side, and as I went to start the car, the coyote came right in front of us on the street." Somebody call the Governor, maybe he can pull a Palin and shoot em' from the sky!

Living in a diminishing habitat, the animals are most likely searching for food. While some citizens feel the coyotes should be relocated, officials say that only happens when the animals become "aggressive," and so far the coyotes have been polite. Maywood's Borough Administrator has found a sure-fire way to clear them out: "If they have sprinklers, they can turn the sprinklers on—it'll chase them away—or hit them with the hose." Urban coyotes have been known to crop up around cities as large as Phoenix or Chicago, but those coyotes usually make fun of the coyotes in New Jersey, hence their previously low-profile.

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By Christopher Robbins in News on July 12, 2011 1:15 PM

Comments [rss]

retrofitter

wow! Maywood's Borough Administrator actually didn't send people into an unnecessary panic? A voice of reason! How refreshing. Nice article.

OrchidBlack

Coyotes usually do not go around attacking people; attacks on humans are extremely rare. Most attacks by Coyotes usually occur when people try to feed the animals. Coyotes are afraid of humans and try to avoid direct human contact so in the event of a coyote attack one should look into some sort of human error.

openheads

"but those coyotes usually make fun of
the coyotes in New Jersey, hence their previously low-profile."

Nah.............. That behavior is reserved for boring, bland NY'ers who use their zip code as a personality crutch.