What Should You Do If You Come Across a Coyote?

A resident of Montclair contacted Patch this week to report a possible coyote sighting on Bruce Road. He said he and his wife were awakened by an "awful barking noise" around 1 a.m. and then saw what looked like a wolf with a white-tipped tail run past their window. 

The resident was concerned for his neighbors pets, "I heard a lot of dogs barking as a result of this and I really hope no animals were harmed."

Coyote sightings have been reported in Montclair before. In fact, encounters with the wild dogs have been recorded in nearly 400 municipalities from each of the state's 21 counties, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish & Wildlife.

Want to make sure things don't get coyote ugly?

The NJDEP offers the following precautions:

Coyote Precautions

• Never feed a coyote. Deliberately feeding coyotes puts pets and other residents in the neighborhood at risk.
• Feeding pet cats and/or feral (wild) cats outdoors can attract coyotes. The coyotes feed on the pet food and also prey upon the cats.
• Put garbage in tightly closed containers that cannot be tipped over.
• Remove sources of water, especially in dry climates.
• Bring pets in at night.
• Put away bird feeders at night to avoid attracting rodents and other coyote prey.
• Provide secure enclosures for rabbits, poultry, and other farm animals.
• Pick up fallen fruit and cover compost piles.
• Although extremely rare, coyotes have been known to attack humans. Parents should monitor their children, even in familiar surroundings, such as backyards.
• Install motion-sensitive lighting around the house.
• Clear brush and dense weeds from around dwellings — this reduces protective cover for coyotes and makes the area less attractive to rodents and rabbits. Coyotes, as well as other predators, are attracted to areas where rodents are concentrated like woodpiles.
• If coyotes are present, make sure they know they're not welcome. Make loud noises, blast a canned air siren, throw rocks, or spray them with a garden hose.

If you see a coyote during the day that does not appear to be afraid of humans, or if someone is attacked by a coyote, officials should be notified immediately, according to the NJDEP. Call local police and the Division of Fish and Wildlife at 908-735-8793 during normal business hours or the DEP Hotline 877-WARN-DEP during off-hours.