Coyote Sighting Reported To Hoboken Police This Week

HOBOKEN, NJ — Ever since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, people have been reporting more sightings of wildlife in the city — including deer running down Garden Street, a seal sunning itself near the Shipyard, and seemingly well-fed raccoons and skunks.

But coyotes?

On Wednesday, several Hoboken residents said they spotted a coyote early in the morning near Elysian Park, up the hill from the central waterfront.

And on Wednesday night, the police got a call from a resident about a possible coyote further inland.

"Hoboken Police received a report of a possible coyote sighting in the area of Seventh and Garden Streets around 11 p.m. last night (Wednesday)," said public safety spokesperson Marci Rubin on Thursday. "Responding officers saw a small animal on nearby Eighth Street before it ran off. Hoboken police cannot confirm what type of animal it was at this time. It’s rare, but not unheard of for wildlife to be spotted in Hoboken."

(Have you seen wildlife in Hoboken or Jersey City? Send us your photo or experience here.)

Photo Of Coyote In Hudson County

Coyotes were noted in the last two years more northward in Hudson County, including on the Palisade Hills in North Bergen last winter:

(Note: Again, this is North Bergen, not Hoboken.)

State maps show that coyotes were not reported in or near Hudson County until the 1990s, and not in the waterfront towns as of 10 years ago.

Are They Dangerous?

Unlike a seal, coyotes can be dangerous to pets and humans. The State Division of Fish and Wildlife says:

"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."

But many wild animals can spread rabies, an always fatal disease that can be transmitted to humans or other animals with a bite or scratch. Learn more about rabies and find out what to do here.

Coyotes snack on rats, which have had increasing presence in Hoboken recently (read more here).

'Looking Something Like A Police Dog But...'

The state says in its coyote page, "The first known record of coyote occurrence in New Jersey was recorded near Lambertville, Hunterdon County in 1939. The animal was described in newspaper accounts as 'a long, bushy tailed animal looking something like a police dog but with the coloration of a coyote.' "

You can find out more about coyotes in New Jersey here.

'Hudson Table — Shrimp Scampi With A Side of Sassy Skunk'

Meanwhile, Merritt Patterson shared photos of a skunk he saw at night on 14th Street late last year.

He provided this poetic account:

"It was a dark but beautiful night in Mid-November and the air had a chill and could have had much more. It was a Thursday at 9:30 PM. My wife Joan and I had just finished a wonderful and fun cooking class on Pasta at Hudson Table. We were walking home to Sovereign at Shipyard feeling pretty good. They serve wine at these gatherings as it turns out. The air was crisp and the streets were lively.

"Just then we spotted a movement coming out of the alley at City Bistro. A well fed and healthy
looking cat came sauntering out like she owned the street. As we eased up closer we noticed a bit of a decorative accent on this nocturnal feline. The street light revealed a broad white stripe down her entire back. She had by this time taken up a dominant position at the corner of Hudson and 14th street. She appeared to me to demonstrate a bit of ownership of the territory. Well, being a couple of savvy city dwellers we slowly figured out this was a City Skunk. (You guys remember the wine we discussed earlier).

The skunk must have smelled the wonderful leftovers from a great meal at Hudson Table and did a little dance and decided to come over and say hello. Now we are very sociable as we live in the South at a seaside town called Beaufort, SC. You saw it often in the Forrest Gump Film; that was Beaufort. We now live part time in Hoboken after we came to know it from our son attending Stevens Institute. We love it here.

But since we live in the city now we got some street smarts and crossed 14th street to the relative safety of the common dog and occasional cat over there. The Skunk looked us over, turned up its nose and strode on down to the Hudson River. If you listened very carefully you could heard her say 'Spray you later pal.' "

Send your stinky sightings and photos of skunks, snakes, seals, eels (not in sushi), deer, raccoons, coyotes, foxes, and other creatures to Hoboken Patch by clicking this link.