Over the last few months, we’ve received some reports from local residents that a pack of coyotes was spotted in Edgewater. Most recently, in January 2022, there was a coyote spotted in North Bergen.
One reader shared with Hoboken Girl that she spotted the pack of coyotes in Edgewater by her home at the Duchess apartment buildings, located at 7601 River Road.
“There are warnings going out to residents who live in the area who have small children, dogs, and cats to be careful. Please be careful and alert!!” the resident shared with our team.
“The pack was HUGE,” the resident shared, noting that it was spotted at City Place in Edgewater last night, near the Walgreens, and also getting close to apartment buildings. They did not provide photos, but had spotted them in the parking lot of their building.
The police were contacted, as was animal control, and alerts have been sent to many apartment buildings up and down River Road as some reports called the pack aggressive.
Hoboken Girl spoke with Edgewater police, who did not appear familiar with the sightings over the last 24 hours, but shared that coyote sightings in this area are not uncommon.
“It’s not really out of the ordinary,” the police shared with Hoboken Girl. “We have heard about spottings here and there over the last few years.”
This isn’t the Gold Coast’s first rodeo with wild animals, as deer spottings, bald eagles, and other animals have been spotted over the last few years — and yes, including coyotes.
“They’re in Jersey City, they’re in Hoboken, they’re everywhere,” said Christian Crosby, a professor with a doctorate from the Rutgers University Department of Ecology who has been researching coyote movements and behaviors.
“They’ve been seen in 98 percent of New Jersey including Central Park and the Bronx in New York. Their highest New Jersey concentrations are in the northwestern counties and the Pine Barrens,” he shared with NJ Conservation during an interview.
According to MyBergen.com, coyotes are frequently spotted in Bergen County, so it tracks that they’d be seen in Edgewater and North Bergen.
“Coyotes have become firmly established and quite comfortable in the Bergen County-North Jersey area because of their adaptable nature,” the outlet reported. “They simply adjust well to their surroundings and can survive on whatever food is available. Coyotes typically feed on rodents and rabbits but will take advantage of whatever is available, including garbage, pet food and even domestic animals.”
There’s definitely no need to panic, however. “Coyotes are here to stay, so it’s important that we learn how to live with them,” he emphasized. “They’re really easy to get along with if you know what you’re doing.”
Read More: The Story Behind Quaker Parrots in Edgewater
If you do encounter a coyote, here’s what to do to avoid a problem, says Crosby on NJ Conservation:
- – Don’t feed them. If you do, they’ll become habituated to humans and lose their natural fear.
- – Secure garbage cans, restrict access to compost piles, and don’t leave bowls of pet food outside. Be aware that they might try to raid bird feeders.
- – Keep cats and dogs indoors, and make sure livestock like chickens and lambs are in a secured area.
- – If you see a coyote in your yard or near your house, make sure to shout, wave arms, throw objects, spray a hose, or use an airhorn — but make sure there’s an escape route for the animal.
- – If you encounter an aggressive coyote – which is extremely rare – call the police or animal control.
- – Seal off areas under decks and porches to prevent coyotes from establishing dens there.
- – If you have a fenced yard, make sure the fence is at least five to six feet high and buried at least six inches underground.
Have images of a spotting? Email to hello@hobokengirl.com or submit to @thehobokengirl. We also accept news tips via DM or email.
