Frequently asked questions about coyotes
What do Coyotes look like?
Coyotes have wide, pointed ears, and a long, thin snout, and weight 30-50 pounds. They look a bit like German Shepherds, but unlike dogs, their tails are down when walking or running.
How many coyotes live at the Tenafly Nature Center?
Coyotes have been spotted and heard at TNC on occasion. But the area of the Tenafly Nature Center is way too small to fully support the roaming and dining habits of even one coyote year round. A number of coyotes do pass through the nature center, as well as through other back yards and neighborhoods in the area. They are not generally dangerous to hikers.
Are coyotes dangerous?
We have lived mostly peacefully with coyotes for the past 100 years. In the past 10 years there have been only 3 reported attacks on people in New Jersey (2 young children last year and a woman defending her dog several years ago). Without coyotes, or other top predators, the population of rodents could explode. Coyotes live in every county in NJ; it would be impossible to eliminate them.
What are coyotes good for?
Coyotes are beneficial to the environment and to people; they help control small mammal and deer populations, some of whom can carry ticks with lime disease, so in this sense coyotes reduce the spread of the disease.
Can we get rid of them?
It is impossible to wipe out Coyotes. They are more wily than buffalos!
What do I do if I encounter a coyote?
Coyotes are naturally afraid of people. If a coyote does not appear to be afraid, raise your arms, yell, stomp, spray water from a hose, use an air horn, and throw sticks or rocks to show the coyote who is the boss. Don’t run and don’t stare it down.
What is the danger to pets?
Dogs and cats can be attacked by coyotes, and should be supervised or kept on leashes in areas where coyotes are sighted. The DEP reports an average of two dogs per year are attacked by coyotes. Dog attacks are not an indication that people are at risk, because coyotes only view dogs, not people, as a possible food source. Report attacks to the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) at (908) 735-8793. They can be a good source of advice.
If you see a coyote roaming during the day does that mean it’s rabid?
There can be many reasons why a coyote may be seen during the day. Although generally nocturnal, Coyotes sometimes look for food during the day, so appearing during the day by itself does not necessarily tell you whether a coyote has rabies. Of course, if a coyote bites or scratches you, contact a doctor immediately as well as the DEP.
What can I do to make my property less attractive to coyotes?
1) Keep all garbage containers closed and inaccessible. Adding ammonia or pepper spray to trash can discourage rummaging by coyotes and other wildlife.
2) Seal crawl spaces and close bins so coyotes can’t live there.
3) Don’t feed coyotes.
4) Feeding cats outdoors can attract coyotes. Coyotes may feed on the pet food and also prey on the cats.
5) Remove sources of water, especially in dry weather.
6) Bring pets in at night and keep dogs on a leash.
7) Put away bird feeders at night to avoid attracting rodents and other coyote prey.
8) Pick up fallen fruit and cover compost piles.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Tenafly Nature Center at 201 568 6093.
For more information on coyotes found here in New Jersey and what you should know about them please visit the following links: