By Gus Saltonstall
Coyotes have been spotted multiple times in recent weeks within Central Park.
Upper West Sider Sara Xing was walking her dog last week at the Turtle Pond near the Great Lawn, when a pair of coyotes approached her.
“They started around 10 to 15 meters from me, and then Maya [her dog] started barking and ran them across the ice,” Xing told West Side Rag.
Xing wasn’t the only person to see coyotes in Central Park this month. The X account “Above 96th” posted the following video on January 16, showing a coyote running through the Ramble area of Central Park.
Coyote sighting in Central Park! My friend Kaz spotted two coyotes in the Ramble this morning and took this video of one of them. 🐺🐺🐺 #coyote #CentralPark pic.twitter.com/o1gLI9HskV
— Above_96th (@Above96th) January 16, 2025
This past summer, researchers at the Gotham Coyote Project confirmed that a male coyote who has been living in Central Park for the past four years has found a partner. The project told the news site Gothamist that the female coyote most likely took the same route to Central Park as did the male, traveling along train tracks next to the West Side Highway, before moving from one green space to the next, until making it to the most wooded area of Central Park.
If you do come across a coyote, the Parks Department advises to keep your distance, avoid close contact, and if it does approach you, make yourself look bigger and make loud noises. A spokesperson from the agency added that you should not feed coyotes, and visitors should properly dispose of garbage in green spaces where the animals might frequent. The agency also warns visitors with pets to closely monitor them because they might be viewed as prey.
You can read more about coyotes living in New York City — HERE.
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Where is the inevitable Road Runner?
Holy coyote!
“confirmed that a male coyote who has been living in Central Park for the past four years has found a partner.” Who doesn’t love a good love story?
Just did a google search and learned that January through March is coyote mating season. And gestation period is only 63 days!
As long as Central Park’s new family sticks to the rats and leaves the dogs alone, we can all get along.
Can you guarantee that coyotes won’t attack children? Since the answer is clearly no, they must be removed ASAP!
No guarantee that pet dogs, raccoons, squirrels or other people won’t attack children, either. Just keep your kid inside – we’ll all feel better. (good grief)
They don’t attack children (generally) Just keep an eye on your child if you see a coyote. They are larger than the Western State Coyote because in 1900 when the American’s killed all the Grey Wolves, the last Grey Wolf mated with an eastern coyote. They are timid, eat rats, mice, birds, sometimes when hungry, garbage, and small deer. They play with big dogs, remember they are a canine. Now here is the hard part. When the British brought small dogs to the new world, the small dogs would invade Coyote dens and kill the pups. Most predators (i.e. Orca, Wolf and Coyotes) have a culture passed on to generations. The memory of small dog destructive nature is embedded in this memory so… small dogs are definitely a target for Coyotes.
Fascinating! Thanks for that info.
I think it’s time that we name this adventurous little dude and his new girlfriend.
I mean, Flaco the Owl was practically a local celebrity…RIP
I’m thinking along the lines of famous couples. I like Fred & Wilma. Anyone else have some suggestions?
Since we are UWSiders, we should get to name them, no? Maybe the Rag could do a vote like we did with the goats.
I love this. What about Wile E. and ACME? haha
I heard weird animal noises in the park along the 97th St walkway two nights ago. I thought it was one or more raccoons. Maybe coyote/s? Even mating?
I am from the UWS. I live in Sherman Oaks CA. I see groups of coyotes in the late evening. They come down from the3 hills surrounding the San Fernando Valley and also from the Sepulveda Dam and wildlife area about 2 miles away. They have no interest in adult humans however there have been attempted attacks on pets and even child once.
The main message here I think is the danger to dogs— just beware and don’t let small dogs run free. I used to live in the sierras— loads of coyotes— one friend lost a beagle ON A LEASH when a coyote ran up behind her and snatched her dog(so have to be ready even when leashed). Another one lost a Pomeranian in his driveway when he went out with it to pick up his newspaper— coyote was crouching/hiding behind a bush and jumped out/grabbed pup. Coyotes are indeed crafty. Be careful.
This explains that ACME pop-up store on Columbus:)
There is no place for coyotes in the city. They are a danger to kids and pets. What are we going to tell a parent when his or her child gets injured or killed by a coyote? These dangerous animals must be removed.
Coyotes rarely attack people, but one should be diligent with infants in areas around coyote habitat. Coyotes have been in New York for thousands of years, not sure who has NO PLACE in New York State. They are timid and generally not dangerous. You can find enough information in a search engine site called Google. What one must keep in mind is coyotes have issues with small dogs. When the British brought small dogs to the new world, the small dogs would invade Coyote dens and kill the pups. Most predators (i.e. Orca, Wolf and Coyotes) have a culture passed on to generations. The memory of small dog’s absolute destructive nature is embedded in this memory so… small dogs are definitely a target for Coyotes. By the way most of the attacks from coyotes are ones that are rabid and mainly come from the smaller coyotes in the West Coast.
This is how wolves were domesticated! Won’t be long before the next generations of coyotes in Central park are enjoying off-leash time with the local canine populations. But more likely they’ll be begging for food from the folks dining al fresco at La Pain Quotidien
My dog a husky would play with the alfa coyote in Central Park
Why was this person letting her dog ‘run them across the ice?’ I hope her dog was on a leash. I saw the coyotes last year before the female was officially reported, and the didn’t mess with me or my dog even though they walked right by us, and I kept my dog quiet and close and all was well. No need to spook the animals unless they are really trying to hurt you.