Coyotes have established a presence in New York City. These adaptable canids have successfully integrated into the metropolitan landscape, demonstrating their ability to coexist with dense human populations. Their presence reflects a natural expansion of their range, and understanding their behavior is important for safe coexistence in this unique environment.
Their Journey to the City and Current Habitats
Coyotes were not originally found in New York City but have extended their range eastward from the Great Plains and Southwest across North America. They first appeared in New York State in the 1920s and became firmly established throughout the state by the 1970s. The first recorded coyote sighting in New York City occurred in the Bronx in 1994, with a Manhattan sighting following in Central Park in 1999.
Coyotes likely entered NYC using natural green corridors, such as the Bronx River Parkway from Westchester County. They inhabit urban forests, suburban neighborhoods, and parklands across the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island, with prominent locations including Pelham Bay Park and Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, and Central Park in Manhattan. These animals can use smaller green spaces and even residential areas for movement and foraging, often occupying a territory of approximately two square miles.
Coexisting Safely with Urban Coyotes
Coexisting with urban coyotes requires preventative measures to minimize interactions and ensure their natural wariness of humans. Never feed coyotes, directly or indirectly, to prevent habituation and bolder behavior. Securing garbage in animal-proof containers and keeping pet food indoors helps eliminate potential food sources that attract coyotes.
Supervising pets, particularly small dogs and cats, is recommended, especially outdoors at dawn, dusk, or at night. While attacks on humans are rare, coyotes may view small pets as prey. If an encounter occurs, practice hazing to reinforce their fear of humans. This involves making loud noises, waving arms to appear larger, or throwing small objects like sticks or pebbles in their direction.
Persistence is important when hazing; continue until the coyote completely leaves the area. Coyotes are typically shy and avoid people. Understanding their behavior helps distinguish them from domestic dogs: they have a more slender build, a flatter forehead, a pointed snout, and longer legs, with tails that typically hang low when they run.
Management and Conservation Efforts
New York City authorities, including NYC Parks and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), monitor the urban coyote population. Their approach typically focuses on non-lethal management strategies to promote safe coexistence. Public education is a primary tool, informing residents about coyote behavior and ways to prevent conflicts.
Hazing is encouraged to maintain coyotes’ natural fear of humans, to prevent them from becoming too comfortable in urban settings. Residents are asked to report coyote sightings to city authorities by calling 311, which helps track their movements and behaviors across the boroughs. Coyotes play an ecological role in urban environments, contributing to rodent control and managing populations of other wildlife, like Canada geese.