Recent coyote sightings in Central Park have prompted the NYPD to send out a warning.
A Tweet from Monday warns park goers to avoid coyotes at all costs, even if you struggle to contain your excitement over this animal sighting.
So don’t feed them or get to close to take a photo. And if you’re walking your dog, take extra precaution and be aware of your surroundings.
Due to sightings of a Coyote in Central Park.
Do not feed coyotes ?
Observe and appreciate coyotes from a distance ? ?
Protect your pets ?
If you are approached, make yourself look bigger by putting your arms up, and make loud noises. ??? pic.twitter.com/pSrsvNdLYW
— NYPD Central Park (@NYPDCentralPark) January 27, 2020
In a more recent Tweet, the NYPD seems to blame curious photo-takers for the recent coyote sightings.
Coyote update!
We’ve discovered what’s attracting the Central Park coyote!
Please follow the same strategy the Road Runner uses & avoid the coyote at all times. Meep! Meep!
In all seriousness, please don’t go out of your way to chase for a photograph, give Wile E. space! pic.twitter.com/PhjKlEb7cU— NYPD Central Park (@NYPDCentralPark) January 28, 2020
According to an article on Pet MD, Dr. Shari Rodriguez states that coyotes have attacked dogs on rare occasions.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”16″]So, will a coyote attack a dog? Though everyone seems to have a “coyote ate my friend’s pet” story, Rodriguez says that these occurrences are still relatively low. “It does happen from time to time, but it’s not all that common,” she explains. “When it does happen, it’s typically because humans are engaging in risky behavior—e.g., leaving/letting their pets outside alone, walking pets at night in urban centers.”
[/perfectpullquote]So try to avoid “risky behavior”. Or maybe just take your dog to Riverside Park for now (until the coyotes discover the ruins of the Boat Basin Cafe).
