Multiple people called to report a coyote sighting on Manhattan’s Upper West Side earlier today (April 22).
The first call came in at 5 am, with two other calls following. The most recent sighting was near Grant’s Tomb in Riverside Park. The NYPD’s 24th Precinct tweeted that residents should “steer clear of the area.”
The coyote outsmarted them quickly; vanishing into the foliage:
The coyote is deeply nestled in the brush. @NYPDnews operations have concluded. Thank you. #24PCT#UWS #community pic.twitter.com/ujUUlVmApM
— NYPD 24th Precinct (@NYPD24Pct) April 22, 2015
This is the fourth incident involving a coyote found in Manhattan within the past three months. The most recent was just last week, when one was seen and caught in Chelsea, according to NBC News.
Police are currently investigating a possible coyote attack in New Jersey as well. Stephen Sinisi was walking his dog in Norwood on Sunday (April 19) when he said he was confronted with a coyote. As he began backing away, the coyote pursued him. Sinisi managed to get his dog into the house, but the coyote bit Sinisi on the leg.
As police scoured the area later on, they discovered two coyote dens close to Norwood Public School. Authorities set up traps, and students are being kept inside during breaks.
The coyote believed to have attacked Sinisi was captured and has since tested positive for rabies.
Sinisi’s attack makes it the third spotting in New Jersey since the year began, including another attack on a Saddle River man’s labrador retriever.