Crime & Safety

Cranford Police Kill Coyote on Mitchell Place

Police say the animal appeared to be 'ill or injured.'

killed a coyote this morning on Mitchell Place, after residents reported seeing the animal in the roadway.

According to Sgt. Gerard Quinn, a resident contact police at 8:38 a.m. and stated that an animal, believed to be a coyote, was lying in the roadway. Police responded to the residential street and located the coyote. Authorities said it seemed to be lethargic and appeared to be stumbling and have difficulty walking and moving around.

"Knowing that coyotes are nocturnal, and it was daytime, this led us to believe the animal was ill or injured," Quinn said.

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Police contacted the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife who informed them that the best way to handle the animal, given the circumstances, would be to "put it down."Officers monitored the coyote and followed it until it reached an area clear of people and far enough away from neighboring homes that they would not be in danger when officers took aim at the animal.

"It was dispatched with a single shot by a member of our Firearms Training Unit," Quinn said, describing how the coyote was shot.

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The animal's remains were then disposed of safely, he added.
Quinn said there have been other coyote sightings in the past, but they are infrequent.

"We have very sporadic sightings, many of them are unconfirmed, whereby by the time police arrive, they're already gone," he said.

According to the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife website, the coyote is "a mammal that has expanded its range significantly in the recent past, colonizing the entire Northeast and now found throughout the Garden State. The coyote was never introduced or stocked in New Jersey, but has firmly established itself in our area through its extremely adaptable nature."

It closely resembles a small German shepherd with the exception of a long snout and bushy, black-tipped tail. Coyotes adjust well to their surroundings and can survive on whatever food is available, the website states. They prey on rabbits, mice, birds and other small animals, as well as young and weakened deer. "They are tolerant of human activities and rapidly adapt to changes in their environment," the site adds.

The NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife offers the following tips for anyone who spots an animal they believe to be a coyote or to reduce the likelihood of have problems to encounters with a coyote:

  • Never feed a coyote. Deliberately feeding coyotes puts pets and other residents in the neighborhood at risk.
  • Feeding pet cats and/or feral (wild) cats outdoors can attract coyotes. The coyotes feed on the pet food and also prey upon the cats.
  • Put garbage in tightly closed containers that cannot be tipped over.
  • Remove sources of water, especially in dry climates.
  • Bring pets in at night.
  • Put away bird feeders at night to avoid attracting rodents and other coyote prey.
  • Provide secure enclosures for rabbits, poultry, and other farm animals.
  • Pick up fallen fruit and cover compost piles.
  • Although extremely rare, coyotes have been known to attack humans. Parents should monitor their children, even in familiar surroundings, such as backyards.
  • Install motion-sensitive lighting around the house.
  • Clear brush and dense weeds from around dwellings - this reduces protective cover for coyotes and makes the area less attractive to rodents and rabbits. Coyotes, as well as other predators, are attracted to areas where rodents are concentrated like woodpiles.
  • If coyotes are present, make sure they know they're not welcome. Make loud noises, blast a canned air siren, throw rocks or spray them with a garden hose.


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