Coyote Appears To Be Spotted In Inwood: Photos

INWOOD, NY — Keep an eye out, Inwoodites, it appears that a coyote is sauntering around the Upper Manhattan neighborhood.

Tommy Helgy, who lives on Seaman Avenue near the paddleball courts, posted a photo of a coyote he saw walking within Inwood Hill park late Monday night.

Helgy snapped the pictures from his bedroom window but did not specify where exactly he spotted the animal.

The photos are undoubtedly a bit blurry. The New York City Parks Department told Patch, though, that the animal does “appear to be a coyote” — but couldn’t definitively confirm it.

“I live on Seaman Avenue near the paddleball courts,” Helgy wrote in his Facebook post. “Woke up and looked out the window and the Coyotes are back. This picture doesn’t represent how big it actually was.”

Helgy told Patch the coyote was eating trash with a possum as he and his girlfriend watched it.

The Inwood resident added that he’s seen coyotes before in the area over the past two years.

A representative from the Parks Department told Patch that residents should be “aware, but not concerned,” as the city agency has been monitoring one or two coyotes in Upper Manhattan since late 2019, “and have no reason to believe that the population has increased.”

• Read More: Coyote Sightings Bring Cameras To Inwood Hill Park

The Parks Department also provided some tips on the best way to coexist with coyotes in New York City.

• Do not feed coyotes. Keeping coyotes wild is the key to coexistence. Feeding coyotes can cause them to lose their natural hunting instincts and cause coyotes to associate humans with food.

• Observe and appreciate coyotes from a distance. Though they may look similar to dogs, coyotes are wild animals. The best way to ensure both your safety and the safety of the coyote is to keep your distance.

• Store all food, and garbage in animal-proof containers. Coyotes are very resourceful, and will find ways into unsecured trash bins and pet food containers.

• Protect your pets. Walk dogs on a leash and keep cats inside for safety.

• Keep coyotes wary. If you are approached, make yourself look bigger by putting your arms up, and make loud noises until the coyote retreats. Appreciate coyotes from a distance.

Coyotes have lived in New York since the 1930s, and are most often seen within Queens and the Bronx. The animal doesn’t form true packs, but does sometimes live in family units of up to six coyotes while young.

For tips on coexisting with coyotes and urban wildlife in New York City, you can visit the WildlifeNYC website.