Coyote sightings in Rye, South Nyack spark warnings

Be on the lookout and watch your pets.

Coyotes have been spotted on both sides of the river, first in South Nyack, then in Rye.

In the South Nyack-Grand View area, a coyote was seen running down a deer on Shadyside Avenue, Police Chief Brent Newbury said Monday.

On the east side of the Hudson, Rye City Superintendent of Schools Frank Alvarez sent out a warning after two coyotes were spotted near the Osborn School.

"All residents should use extreme caution if a coyote is observed and should immediately contact their local police agency if an observed animal appears to be aggressive or shows signs of illness," Newbury said. "Coyotes are known to hunt and stalk prey for long periods of time and can travel in packs."

South Nyack-Grand View police said the coyote ran down the deer with the intent to feast on a resident's front lawn before bolting into the woods west of Shadyside Avenue on Sunday. Several residents witnessed the hunt and aftermath in the neighborhood bordering South Nyack and Upper Grandview.

"Some people feed the coyotes and other animals because they feel bad," Newbury said. "In this particular incident, people were talking about leaving the deer. We don't encourage those kinds of ideas. We removed the deer."

Newbury said people walking their dogs should be wary. He also added that letting pets outside on their own is not a good idea during the winter and with hungry predators lurking. He said wild animals seeing a potential meal can get aggressive.

In Rye, Alvarez sent an email home to Osborn School parents at 11 a.m. notifying them of the procedures taken to protect students. A second email at 1 p.m. was sent to all parents in the school district. Alvarez wrote that indoor dismissal procedures were in effect.

"We do not recommend any students be allowed to walk home unaccompanied if they pass in the vicinity of the Osborn School," he wrote. "If you need assistance with changing your child's dismissal plan, please contact the front office of your school."

There have been reports of coyotes attacking animals and people, with two such incidents in the Lower Hudson Valley in recent years.

Last year, a 52-year-old Orangeburg was attacked and bitten by a rabid coyote while walking her dog. The woman, who threw her coat at the coyote to protect her dog, received rabies shots. Orangeburg police shot the coyote.

Last November, a Mamaroneck police officer killed an aggressive coyote. At the time, officials said it did not appear to be rabid or have any other diseases.

Village police also advised residents Monday to tightly enclose and secure garbage bins and not to feed birds, as to cut off the coyotes' food supply.

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