Malden Police Share Coyote Warning Around Expected Spike In Sightings

MALDEN, MA — Malden Police on Tuesday warned community members of increased coyote activity over the coming weeks, sharing some advice to help avoid dangerous coyote interactions.

The spike in activity will likely last through November. During that time, police said, community members should keep dogs on a short leash and keep cats indoors.

The fall season regularly brings an uptick in coyote sightings across the state in what is known as “dispersal season” for coyotes. During this time, coyote pups tend to leave their family pack to find new territory, as noted by Malden Police.

“These young 'yotes are curious and are figuring out where they belong and how to get by,” police said.

Materials from the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife note that coyotes are “well established” in communities throughout Massachusetts, except for Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

They tend to give birth to pups in April or May before those pups then venture off on their own in the fall.

State officials have shared additional tips to stay safe. Individuals should close off outdoor crawl spaces, while cutting back bushes and hedges to limit places where coyotes can hide near inhabited areas. Individuals should keep bird feeders clean and secure their garbage to eliminate possible food sources, among other things.

Coyotes and incidents of coyote attacks have prompted concern on the North Shore on multiple occasions this year.

South of Boston, an incident in Hingham made headlines last week when a coyote chased a girl near an elementary school, according to Boston.com.

A separate incident in Cohasset saw a coyote attack a pet dog in a fenced-in yard late last month, as reported by NBCBoston.