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Coyotes Roam New Jersey Neighborhoods, Dodge Sprinklers
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jul 12, 2011
Modified Jul 12, 2011
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jul 12, 2011
Modified Jul 12, 2011
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Coyotes have been spotted in New Jersey, possibly lured by the state's business-friendly climate, it's pristine shores or effective tourism campaign. Residents of Hackensack and Maywood are on edge after watching the wild animals traipse around their streets. One woman tells CBS that as she was putting her granddaughter in the car, "I came around the other side, and as I went to start the car, the coyote came right in front of us on the street." Somebody call the Governor, maybe he can pull a Palin and shoot em' from the sky!
Living in a diminishing habitat, the animals are most likely searching for food. While some citizens feel the coyotes should be relocated, officials say that only happens when the animals become "aggressive," and so far the coyotes have been polite. Maywood's Borough Administrator has found a sure-fire way to clear them out: "If they have sprinklers, they can turn the sprinklers on—it'll chase them away—or hit them with the hose." Urban coyotes have been known to crop up around cities as large as Phoenix or Chicago, but those coyotes usually make fun of the coyotes in New Jersey, hence their previously low-profile.
Tagged
Chris Christie
coyotes
hackensack
maywood
new jersey
urban coyotes
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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