Photo courtesy of NYPD’s 24th precinct.
A coyote was spotted early Wednesday morning in Riverside Park at 87th street, causing police to close off parts of the park and go on a search for the animal. The coyote was first spotted at 5:15 a.m., and then seen tramping South to 73rd street, according to the Daily News.
“The coyote headed south toward W. 73rd St. before scampering north to W. 91st St. where it was spotted sunning itself on a large rock by 6 a.m., according to officials.”
As many as four helicopters were hovering over the neighborhood as of 7 a.m. — some from NYPD, some from news stations.
The coyote was spotted again later in the morning at 112th street in the park, according to the 24th precinct.
Early morning dog-walkers like Sarah Kennedy had quite a shock: “The dog and I were turned back from our usual path this morning because there’s a coyote on the run from the cops in Riverside Park.”
Update: Coyote last seen around Grant’s Tomb (122nd street).
Second Update, 8:38 a.m.: Scanner traffic indicates they lost sight of the animal and have pulled back.
Third Update, 8:48: Looks like he got away! We heard this from the 24th precinct: “The coyote is deeply nestled in the brush. @NYPDnews operations have concluded. Thank you.”
We have proposed calling this coyote Dr. Richard Kimball, after the character in The Fugitive. The 24th precinct was willing to humor us:
@westsiderag The coyote actually told us that he did not kill his wife. Whatever that meant.
— NYPD 24th Precinct (@NYPD24Pct) April 22, 2015
All kidding aside: If you see the coyote, steer clear and call 911.
Photo by Sunny.
Riverside dr. Reports of Coyote. P officer says saw what looked like “medium sized dog” pic.twitter.com/gzCh1hL12Y
— Paul Murnane (@paulmurn) April 22, 2015
We will keep you updated as we hear more.
Another coyote was spotted and captured in Riverside a few months ago.
Thanks to Sunny for the tip and photo.
For crying out loud! They don’t pull out the stops like this when there’ve been rapes and assaults in the parks! What’s this critter going to do, eat a pigeon or rat or something? This is an insane overreaction and total waste of resources.
A danger to humans……could be rabid like those tracked in NJ
“A danger to humans……could be rabid like those tracked in NJ”
You mean the coyotes or the humans in New Jersey???
It’s behaving quite normally and I have seen no allegations that it’s rabid. Rabies is far more common in raccoons and skunks and other animals common in the city parks — heck, even birds, like the beloved red-tailed hawks, can be infected, but you don’t see major police-hunts for those animals. This animal has only been “spotted”, it hasn’t actually bothered anybody. A few personnel from Animal Control to capture it and relocate it might be an appropriate response, but helicopters and a police canvass is major overkill.
Rabies is a mammilian virus. Birds cannot get it.
Seriously? Animal Control at 5 in the morning?? Good luck with that; you can barely get their attention during normal business hours, at which time the coyote would no longer be trackable.
As ar as it’s only being “spotted” and not bothering anyone, are you suggesting waiting until it does? And it will, rabid or not. They are predatory animals and will go after small dogs and children for food.
Would you still think this was overkill if your or a friend’s/relative’s child or dog was bitten or eaten by a coyote?
A greater danger to humans are criminals with knifes and guns, but then thanks to Mayor Wilhem the cops can no longer go after them. Guess the ACLU doesn’t care about coyote rights. #coyotelivesmatter ?
Agree with Elias, what a tremendous waste of the NYPD’s resources, a helicopters seriously?
how absurd. good thing i did not report the coyote i saw in central park four years ago. they’d still be looking,
Haha! That was funny.
some of the coyotes are rabid, so it is a good idea to be aware…
The coyote is probably looking for his wife, still wondering why she never came home a few months ago.
Shoot that thing. Whether a tranq dart or a bullet – just take him out…
NO!! HOW ABSURD. IT DIDN’T DO ANYTHING! DON’T HARM OR KILL
They need to break out the Acme Corporation arsenal… couple of 50 lb anvils should do the trick.
Having lived both near Riverside Park as well as in the New Mexico mountains, I am constantly amazed at all the fuss whenever a coyote is found in urban-natural environments. We used to have coyotes on the property in some numbers and loved the songs of their kits in Spring. They mate for life, hunt together when they can, and eat smaller game. The only time a coyote would menace or attack a larger animal is if the animal threatened their kits. Other wise, they eat lots of rats, mice birds and rabbits. In NM they were known to take an occasional Yorkie or housecat at night, so smart folks made sure their animals were inside overnight.
It might be OK with New Mexico residents if the occasional dog got snatched up as prey, but I doubt any resident of NYC would be as ho-hum about it as you seem to be. Did you know that, if hungry enough, they’ll snatch a small child as well??
“Smart folks” in NY don’t necessarily have the option of keeping their dogs inside when they need to pee at 5am. And if a human happens to walk too close to a den? Then what?
Please – get more factual information before pontificating about how harmless coyotes are.
Actually Richard is one of the few people on here that is basing his reaction on actual experience… and fact.
Maybe the coyote just wanted to know who was buried in Grant’s tomb?
I agree with Elias! The response is overkill. 4 helicopters? Ummmm…okay. I say let the little fella take out the rat population. Thank you.
the “4 helicopters” were not all police but included news copters.
Ridiculous overreaction. Years of dawn hikes in the Los Angeles mountains and canyons taught me that if you avoid coyotes, they will avoid you. The NYPD’s resources would be infinitely more useful in combatting crime in our area. As for non-human threats…I’d worry more about the rats and mosquitoes.
My Mom always told me to stay away from coyotes, whether they have readies or not.
if the coyote had bitten a child, i suspect the same people who are on here whining about the misuse of NYPD resources would be excoriating NYPD and De Blasio.
attacks by coyotes on humans are uncommon but increasing… especially in urban areas.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coyote_attacks_on_humans
This coyote hasn’t bothered anybody, and is actually actively avoiding humans — normal and healthy behavior.
But if you want to play “what if…”, I’d still say let Animal Control deal with it because regular cops are entirely out of their element here — it’s like asking a surgeon to repair your car.
The coyotes are obviously coming to seek revenge: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/animal-emotions/201202/wearing-pain-canada-gooses-fur-policy-is-lame-and-self-serving
This is a great fun story. The coyote population in the North East has expanded because the wolf population has gone done substantially. Still, not all that bad for a coyote to roam the streets eating all the rats.
Geez, leave the little guy alone. Chances are he’ll find his way out the same way he got in. I’ll never forget the coyote spotted in the park a few years ago – they so over-tranquilized it, they killed the poor thing.
It must have been a slow news morning — or the news was quick to jump on the “trending” posts on animal sightings in NJ, CA, etc…..it must have raised viewership by 1 ratings point or something somewhere…so now wild animal sightings are breaking news.
Ideally, I would avoid the coyote…he was probably vaguely interested in the dog runs…but I don’t think we needed the full helicopter swat treatment. Now if it were a nasty raccoon….and they can be REALLY nasty…I would really avoid it.
we have or had a pack of raccoons in Riverside Park. they used to come out on garbage day and go a good way down 95th Street. i once saw one almost at W End Ave. haven’t seen them in a few years, though, so maybe they’re gone. or maybe they objected to the gentrification of the neighborhood and moved uptown.
I have also seen a skunk in the bushes on a Riverside Drive island, around 122nd (near Grant’s Tomb). a real skunk… not a landlord.
More likely they objected to the homeless shelters!
i doubt it. Raccoons are more sensitive to human suffering than some yuppie commenters on this web site, who will go nameless. also raccoons are not known for their elitism.
Boy, you’re on fire today! You’ve covered all bases, showing your hatred for landlords, newcomers to our neighborhood, young people who work, and even parents. Or at least those with concern for children. Bravo!
condo owner = landlord
apparently you don’t know the difference between a homeowner and a landlord.
The raccoons are still very much active in Riverside Park & environs, pre-dawn. Give them a wide berth…they’re nasty–especially the Mammas.
I’m still waiting for a bear to show up one day.
We prefer to keep a low profile . . .
Way to bury the lede WSR! The real story here is that the 24th Pct Twitter person is really freaking funny. 🙂
Wile E. Coyote!… Where’s the Road Runner? 😀
This particular creature may be of German, Austrian, or Swiss heritage :
<>
Personally I am thrilled that we are seeing a resurgence of wildlife in Manhattan, including Hawks and Raccoons. I even saw a White Heron in the northern part of Central Park a coupe of years ago. IMO, there are far more important matters to be spending resources on than catching a Coyote.
I’ll take coyotes over rats any day. Gives new meaning to “rat patrol”.
The only real question is when coyote season will begin in the park. Time to head for Cabela’s and double down on camo and and a beer holder for the ATV.
+1