Coyotes are beginning to call Long Island home, with breeding populations existing in Nassau County.
In November, Roslyn resident Richard Felsen sent photos and a Ring camera video to the Press which he claimed showed coyotes.
“My sister’s friend was walking her dog around 9 p.m., and she saw this coyote sleeping on the grass,” Felsen said. “Two more were spotted several days later eating garbage at the North Hills complex.”
Felsen reported these sightings to Nassau County police, who referred him to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).
“Based on this photo it appears it could be a coyote,” Lori Severino, public information officer for the NYSDEC, said. “The alternative would be a domestic dog.”
The DEC told the Press in September that coyotes are growing, slowly, in numbers on Long Island, filling a niche that has been gone ever since cougars and wolves were extirpated from the eastern United States.
Most coyotes on Long Island would be in Nassau County, which is in line with these reported encounters, although a few have been confirmed on the East End.
“The ultimate movement of coyotes onto Long Island will be affected by their ability tonavigate busy transportation corridors,” Severino continued. “Abundant food resources exist on Long Island to support coyotes but the difficulty of navigating Long Island’s busy roadways might limit their spread onto Long Island.”
Severino added that coyotes are generally wary of humans, but conflict can arise when people feed them.
“DEC reminds the public that seeing a coyote is not cause for concern,” she added.
Nevertheless, coyotes can be dangerous to pets according to the NYSDEC’s website, and biologist Mandy Watson told the Press it is important that coyotes maintain a healthy fear of humans.
