Coyote Attacks Reported at Ramapo Valley County Reservation

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Mahwah NJ,  A woman, and a dog were reportedly injured in separate coyote attacks Saturday afternoon in Ramapo Valley County Reservation. Following the attacks occurring several hours apart, local authorities closed down the county park for the duration of the day.
It is currently not known if the same coyote is responsible for both attacks.

As recently as August, a Mahwah woman was bitten several times by a coyote. She was ultimately able to force the coyote away by striking it with a baseball bat,( https://theridgewoodblog.net/coyote-attacks-women-in-mahwah/  )

Mahwah Police has also reported  “several” bearing sightings without incident recently.

According to the New Jersey State Division of Fish and Wildlife the following guidelines can help reduce the likelihood of conflicts with coyotes:

Never feed a coyote. Deliberately feeding coyotes puts pets and other residents in the neighborhood at risk.
Feeding pet cats and/or feral (wild) cats outdoors can attract coyotes. The coyotes feed on the pet food and also prey upon the cats.
Put garbage in tightly closed containers that cannot be tipped over.
Remove sources of water, especially in dry climates.
Bring pets in at night.
Put away bird feeders at night to avoid attracting rodents and other coyote prey.
Provide secure enclosures for rabbits, poultry, and other farm animals.
Pick up fallen fruit and cover compost piles.
Although extremely rare, coyotes have been known to attack humans. Parents should monitor their children, even in familiar surroundings, such as backyards.
Install motion-sensitive lighting around the house.
Clear brush and dense weeds from around dwellings – this reduces protective cover for coyotes and makes the area less attractive to rodents and rabbits. Coyotes, as well as other predators, are attracted to areas where rodents are concentrated like woodpiles.
If coyotes are present, make sure they know they’re not welcome. Make loud noises, blast a canned air siren, throw rocks, or spray them with a garden hose.