Wyckoff: Only Call PD If You Spot Aggressive, Sick Animal

WYCKOFF, NJ – Unless the wild animal you spot seems sick, aggressive or otherwise acting unusually, Wyckoff Police have asked residents not to call headquarters or dial 911 to report sightings.

In recent weeks, police have “received numerous calls” about “wild animals roaming in town, especially foxes and coyotes,” the department wrote on its Facebook page.

During the warm weather, adult animals are trying to keep their new offspring properly fed and will be active most hours of the day to accomplish this, police reminded residents.

“Therefore, it is only necessary to contact us if an animal is acting aggressively or threatening so that way we can contact animal control to respond,” the department said.

To report non-emergent animal sightings, call 201-891-2121. Residents should only dial 911 in the event of an actual emergency, the department said.

In nearby Mahwah, police are urging residents to be on the lookout after a township woman was bitten several times by a coyote Friday evening. She was ultimately able to force the coyote away by striking it with a baseball bat she picked up in a nearby home.

Wildlife Safety Tips (courtesy of the state Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish & Wildlife)

• Do not approach aggressive wildlife
• Keep a safe distance from non-aggressive wildlife
• Stay away from wild animals especially if they appear sluggish or overly aggressive
• Nocturnal animals that are seen during the day should also be avoided
• Never feed wildlife
• Protect your pets by vaccinating them against rabies
• Never leave small children and small pets outside and unsupervised
• Cover garbage cans with tight-fitting lids to prevent such from tipping over
• Remove compost piles, brush, weeds, or wood piles (this reduces the protective cover for wildlife)
• Install motion-sensitive lighting around your property
• Should non-aggressive/aggressive wildlife approach you, try to make: loud noises, blast an air siren/air horn, or spray wildlife with a garden hose
• Report any bites or incidents involving another animal
• If you or your pet are bitten or scratched by a wild animal you should immediately clean the wound with soap and clean water and have it treated by a physician or veterinarian, respectively
• For safety reasons and prohibitive laws regarding the releasing of wild animals, the trapping of such on private property should be left to a licensed professional
• Contact authorities in event of any sightings of sick or injured animals