STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Amid recent coyote sightings on Staten Island, the New York City Parks Department is urging residents to keep their distance and monitor their pets.

Recently, Mike Donovan, a Graniteville resident, captured a photo of what appeared to be a coyote in his neighborhood.

The animal was seen on Pyramid Court in the vicinity of Lamberts Lane at around 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13.

“I was driving, I pulled over and I said, ‘Wow, that’s a big boy,’” Donovan said. “I thought maybe it was a dog or something, like a stray dog, and I stopped right at the corner, at the intersection… I was like, ‘what the hell?’”

In the wake of that sighting, the Advance/SILive.com received another report from a woman who claims she saw a coyote on the lawn of a Great Kills home early one morning in October.

Given the recent sightings, some may question whether or not it is normal to see these canines wandering the Island’s streets.

In short, it’s not abnormal.

Parks Department’s message

“Over the last several decades, coyotes have been expanding their natural range in response to ample food and open habitat,” a Parks Department spokesperson said.

Coyotes are known to be living on Staten Island, in the Bronx, Queens and even Manhattan, according to the spokesperson.

Given earlier sunsets around this time of year, the spokesperson explained it is possible for residents to see more urban wildlife, including coyotes.

Although one may be tempted to approach a coyote given its resemblance to a dog, residents should keep in mind these animals are not man’s best friend.

The Parks Department is requesting residents keep their distance from coyotes. If you are approached by one, you should make yourself appear bigger and make loud noises until the coyote flees.

Residents are also asked by the department not to feed these animals as it lowers their fear of humans and can condition them to approach others.

Those with pets are urged by the department to keep their furry friends leashed, as small dogs and cats could appear as prey. Since larger dogs may be viewed as competitors, pet owners should beware of confrontations.

An ideal habitat for coyotes in NYC

Coyotes were not confirmed to be living on Staten Island until 2022. However, back in 2019, Frank Vincenti, the founder of the Wild Dog Foundation, explained that Staten Island would be “one of the best places for coyotes.”

The Wild Dog Foundation is a not-for-profit wildlife education group Vincenti founded in 1996 when he says the first coyotes began to appear in the Bronx.

A single coyote was confirmed to be living on the Island in 2022; it is unknown whether more have arrived since then.

“What became of it or if this is the same one that has just kept a low profile, I cannot say for sure,” Vincenti said.

He noted that these coyotes (if there are more than one) likely originate from New Jersey and could be crossing over from there. If there were a growth in the coyote population, it would likely be slow, similar to what is taking place on Long Island and in Queens as waterways prevent easy access, Vincenti added.

“Staten Island is ideal for coyotes as just like the Bronx and Queens, it has ample greenspace and many suburban areas with plenty of prey and cover to keep out of sight,” he explained. ”Staten Island would just be part of the natural expansion the metro area has been experiencing the last 30 years with coyotes.”

Vincenti reiterated the Parks Department’s message and emphasized the importance of not habituating coyotes through feeding.

“Coyotes rarely are aggressive toward people,” he stated. “As said prior, habitual feeding usually leads to potential negative interactions. As long as that is refrained from, there would be little to no conflict.”

Those who may happen to see a coyote should report their sighting to the WildlifeNYC Report a Sighting page, the Parks Department said.

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