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The village employed a licensed trapper to place traps on public property in Rich Manor Park, the detention basin area between Edgewood Drive and Bluebird Hollow, and the wooded area surrounding Rye Hills Park. The program will last seven weeks.
The village will continue to monitor all coyote sightings, and residents are encouraged to call the Rye Brook Police Department at 914-937-1020 to report sightings.
Here are tips to prevent coyote attacks, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation:
- If you encounter a coyote, be aggressive. Loud noises and forceful behavior will normally scare the animal away. Make sure that your voice and body language are as aggressive as possible. Taking a step or making a quick, sudden movement toward the coyote can make this approach more effective.
- Wave your arms and throw sticks or stones.
- Sound an air horn.
- Spray the coyote with a hose.
- Spray with pepper spray, although this is a last resort and is designed more to discourage or stop an attack.
- Use visual and auditory scare devices. Use a motion sensor to activate a spotlight and radio or some other noise to chase off unwanted animals.
- Do not feed coyotes.
- Do not provide food sources that may attract them, such as outdoor pet food or bird seed. They may also be attracted by the birds and rodents drawn to bird feeders.
- Make garbage inaccessible.
- Do not allow pets to run free. Coyotes can see cats or small dogs as prey. The average weight of a coyote is 35 pounds; they will usually yield territory to midsize or larger dogs. Conflicts are most frequent in March and April, when coyotes are establishing their dens.
- Small children should be supervised by an adult while outdoors and told to yell “coyote” repeatedly until an adult responds.
- In the event of an attack, fight back by kicking, punching and poking. Target sensitive areas such as the eyes, nose and throat. Teach your children the aggressive tactics.
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