Crime & Safety

Coyote Sightings in White Plains

Two residents say they have spotted a coyote.

Two local residents say they have spotted a coyote, or a very similar looking animal in White Plains on Sunday.

I'm not sure if it was a young coyote or a fox, but I saw something in our yard on Sunday [afternoon],” said Deborah Sadler, who lives on Pleasant Avenue. “Really mangy looking, very little hair—which is probably why I'm not sure if it was a fox or a coyote. It scampered away very quickly after I caught a glimpse of it.”

Sadler, who has lived in White Plains for 4 years, says the animal was heading towards Overlook Road. Adrienne Pincus spotted a coyote in the same vicinity that day, in a driveway on Cobb Avenue. Pincus saw the animal, which turned onto Prescott Avenue, around 5 p.m.

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Sadler says this isn’t the first time she’s seen a member of the candiae family lurking in her neighborhood.

“I’ve seen a fox here a year ago, which was very recognizably a fox,"
she said. “This time I couldn’t tell. It probably lives in the ravine between Gedney Terrace and Pleasant Avenue, I'm sure there are a bunch of interesting animals in there."

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According to Lt. Joseph Castelli of the White Plains Police Department, coyotes in White Plains aren’t completely unheard of.

“We do receive coyote reports on occasion, and we document the sightings to determine if there are specific areas in White Plains where coyotes may become a concern,” he said.

If you do spot a coyote, you can report it to the public safety department at their non-emergency number at 914-422-6111. When public safety receives a report about a coyote sighting an animal control or police officer is sent out when appropriate.

“In White Plains, if the police or animal control officer encounters a coyote, we do not trap or terminate the animal unless it shows clear signs of sickness or injury,” Castelli explained.

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, coyotes are firmly established in New York and can coexist with people, as long as the canines fear people.

The DEC says to make loud noises, wave your arms and throw sticks and stones if you come across an aggressively behaved coyote. To prevent coyotes from getting too comfortable in your backyard make sure to never feed them, and not feed your pets outside.

The DEC also recommends: not making garbage accessible to coyotes and other animals; not leaving out bird seed, since birds and rodents attract coyotes; fencing in your property; removing brush and tall grass from your property; teaching your children to keep a distance from the animals; not leaving your pets outside to roam free; and asking your neighbors to follow the same steps.

Click here for more tips on coyotes from the DEC.

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