NORTH HALEDON — The Police Department is warning residents to keep a close eye on household pets after multiple coyote sightings were reported in the borough.
A homeowner on Tamboer Drive reported in one case that a coyote nipped the tail of her pet dog, which then needed prompt veterinary attention and a rabies booster shot, Police Lt. David Parenta said on June 16.
“Coyotes are a natural part of our environment and can be found throughout the area,” local police said in a Facebook post. “While sightings aren’t uncommon, it’s important to take precautions to keep your pets safe.”
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Sightings have also rattled a neighborhood in Bergen County.
Glen Rock police issued a similar message to Facebook followers amid confirmed glimpses of coyotes on Dunham Place, where homes back up to athletic fields, a brook and a large expanse of woods. The animals were observed in pairs.
“Residents are advised to maintain a safe distance from coyotes and should not approach, follow or attempt to interact with them,” Glen Rock police said.
The state Division of Fish and Wildlife said the first sighting of a coyote in New Jersey occurred more than 85 years ago in Lambertville, a small city flanked by the Delaware River in Hunterdon County.
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Since then, officials said, the animals have been seen in almost every municipality in the Garden State.
Technically called Eastern coyotes, they are bigger than their Western brethren — believed to be a wolf hybrid. They hunt birds, mice, rabbits, and weakened or young deer. But they are not picky eaters, officials said, and they will consume carrion, or roadkill, plus garbage, pet food and domestic animals that are left unattended.
Residents should ensure their pet dogs are leashed and that their cats stay indoors, especially at dawn and dusk.
Philip DeVencentis is a reporter for NorthJersey.com. For access to the most important news in your community, subscribe or activate your digital account.
Email: devencentis@northjersey.com
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Coyotes seen in North Haledon, Glen Rock NJ prompt alerts