Coyotes in Albany
The city of Albany announced Wednesday it's posted coyote warning signs in the area of the Capital Hills golf course and Normanskill Farm following word from residents of recent coyote sightings. (The properties are adjacent to each other along the Normanskill on the city's southern edge.)
That's a sign image the city distributed. From a city Department of General Services press release:
Residents and dog owners should be mindful of coyotes when walking dogs in the neighborhood and letting dogs out in their yards. Coyotes are wild animals and they can be dangerous. Do not encourage them to approach or feed them. If you bring your pets to Capital Hills they MUST be kept under direct control for your safety and the safety of the animals.
If you see a coyote exhibiting "bold" behaviors and showing little or no fear of people, contact the local New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at 518-357-2355.
As we've mentioned before, coyotes -- specifically eastern coyotes -- have been moving into New York over the last century and seemingly popping up more frequently in this area in recent decades. The Pine Bush is a hot spot for them, and as the city noted today, they show up at Capital Hills, too. (Otto and a friend saw a coyote there one time and it was very exciting.)
Coyotoes tend to be stealthy, often capable of moving through urban areas without being detected by humans. And in forested areas? Ha, good luck with that.
Last year over at the Altamont Enterprise, Melissa Hale-Spencer wrote an interesting article about the lives of coyotes and their presence in the Hill Towns.
And please don't feed them! As former State Museum curator of mammals Roland Kays said to us years ago in an interview about animals such as coyotes and fishers and bears showing up in urban areas:
The other thing that can drive populations really high is feeding the animals. It's really important that people appreciate the animals and the rare glimpses they get, but not feed them because that causes numerous problems. You know, if you have a coyote that's used to coming into a backyard looking for food, then maybe it goes into your neighbor's backyard and they have a one-year-old kid or a dog or cat and you potentially have a problem. That hasn't been a big problem here, but it has in other regions with coyotes.
So please don't feed the animals. You're causing problems for all your neighbors. And by trying to help the animal, you could end up getting it killed. What happens is that a bear becomes a nuisance and it gets shot. And the person whose fault that was was the person who started feeding it.
Earlier on AOA: About those coyotes
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Comments
I've seen a coyote in Loudonville as well. We must not have too many, though, because we still have lots of rabbits.
... said Amy on Jan 25, 2017 at 1:58 PM | link
Living in the neighborhood near Capitol Hills, I wish some of my neighbors kept their kitties inside. One of these days Muffin is going to be a coyote's midnight snack.
... said chrisck on Jan 25, 2017 at 3:26 PM | link
Yet they won't post signs about the Urban Sasquatch I've seen in Lincoln Park.
... said Tim on Jan 25, 2017 at 3:37 PM | link
The closest I've come to one around here was at an open area along the Old Champlain Canal bike path north of Waterford. What a beautiful, intelligent animal! We studied each other as I coasted past about 20 feet away.
... said Chuck on Jan 25, 2017 at 3:54 PM | link
I've seen one in Loudonville as well as heard howling a few days later. There was a dead coyote on the side of 787 by I-90. Wonder if it's the same coyote.
... said GB on Jan 25, 2017 at 5:07 PM | link
Supposedly sasquatch up around Whitehall, , coyotes are here to stay and with a winter like this not many are gunna die so will be a boom come Spring 4 sure
... said Earl the Pearl81 on Jan 25, 2017 at 5:12 PM | link
Coyotes are welcome to do in all the deer and squirrels (aka tree rats) that they can catch on my property!
... said Liz Strickler on Jan 25, 2017 at 5:51 PM | link
I saw a coyote roadkill in Guilderland near Western Turnpike golf course couple of years back. It was fairly large, almost like German Shepherd
... said Lu on Jan 25, 2017 at 7:38 PM | link
I live in Glenmont. I have never seen a coyote, but I have been awakened by the sound of their strange barking many times.
... said Cynthia on Jan 25, 2017 at 7:46 PM | link
A couple of weeks ago, Jeter (my dog) and I ran down the yellow brick and through the farm to the back 9 at the golf course and heard what I could only imagine were coyotes. Thanks for the confirmation. I know that they prey on small animals, but any idea if they would confront an 85 lb. dog?
... said Silvia M Lilly on Jan 26, 2017 at 8:14 AM | link
Maybe it's my unique perspective, but I'm actually surprised that it's taken this long to have coyote sightings in Albany. We've had other predators such as hawks nesting in the Helderberg neighborhood as there's an ample source of food (i.e., squirrels). I've personally seen many in the Pine Bush, Thacher and in Ravena while mountain biking over the years. Accidentally ran into two pups years ago wrestling on the trail. They were just as startled to see me as I was to them!
... said James at 46 or so on Jan 26, 2017 at 8:30 AM | link
Coyotes aren’t typically known to attack people and larger dogs, though it certainly has and does occur (adults and small children). And coyotes do routinely go after cats and smaller dogs.
Most of the time they avoid people, the key is to not get them familiar with getting free meals out of garbage cans, left out pet food or from ill-educated people who try and feed them like a goat at a petting zoo.
Here's a good article on keeping pets safe:
http://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/urban-coyotes-keeping-your-pets-safe
... said Jamie on Jan 26, 2017 at 10:05 AM | link
Thanks for the info, Jamie.
... said Silvia M Lilly on Jan 26, 2017 at 10:50 AM | link