West Orange Resident, Dogs Encounter Coyote Near Reservation

WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange residents are lucky to live in an area that features several expansive nature reserves. But that can sometimes come at a price, a local resident says.

Steve Malanga of West Orange recently reached out to Patch about an encounter he and his dogs had with a coyote near South Mountain Reservation (read more below).

A recent resurgence in coyote sightings caused West Orange’s neighbor, Livingston, to issue an advisory to its residents earlier this week. Read More: Coyotes Seen In West Orange – But That's Not New

Sightings of the animals – which play an important role in the ecosystem, experts say – have been uncommon but not rare in West Orange over the past decade.

Coyote populations are expanding throughout New Jersey, increasing the likelihood of coyotes living in or near developed areas, experts say. Despite this increase, reports of coyote-related damage have remained relatively low. Coyotes are naturally wary of people, and they rarely cause property damage or act aggressively.

But according to Malanga, “rare” doesn’t mean “never.”

“Recently when I was out walking in South Mountain Reservation early in the morning, my dogs and I were attacked by an extremely aggressive coyote in a manner I’d never seen in my 20 years of hiking in that area,” Malanga told Patch on Thursday.

The encounter took place on an old road closed to traffic, Valley View Drive, which runs up a hill from the parking lot on Cherry Lane across from the entrance to the Orange Reservoir, he said.

Here’s what happened, Malanga said:

“Without warning, a coyote came charging out of the woods, and without stopping to threaten us, ran straight into one of my dogs. My other dog pulled away from me and jumped into the fray, and the three of them began chasing each other and fighting. I grabbed a stick and fought off the animal, and began taking my dogs down the hill. The coyote followed much of the way, trying to get at my dogs, who avoided injury only because there were two of them, and they managed to keep the attacker off balance.”

“What I witnessed was very rare – I’ve seen plenty of coyotes in the reservation,” Malanga continued. “Usually they shrink from human contact, or at worse, just quietly watch you. This attack was so different I’ve reported it to municipal and county officials, and the state has been informed.”

Malanga shared the story after seeing a similar post on social media.

“That prompted me to share my story because the area around the Orange Reservoir is a popular spot for those with dogs, and even for families with small children,” Malanga told Patch.

“Best to be aware,” Malanga added.

Here are some tips for reducing the likelihood that you’ll run into a conflict with a coyote, state officials say:

DON’T FEED THEM – “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. Past interbreeding between wolves and coyotes may be responsible for the larger size and color variations in the eastern coyote.”

TAKE PRECAUTIONS – “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.”

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch West Orange Facebook page.