Coyote Sightings In Middletown In Late June

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — There have been at least two coyote sightings in Middletown Twp. so far this summer and Middletown Health Department Director Rich DeBenedetto wants residents to be informed and aware of coyotes. It also could be the same coyote seen twice, he said.

There have been coyote sightings between New Monmouth Road and Tindall Road. One coyote was seen Thursday, June 21, DeBenedetto said, and the second sighting was over the weekend of June 23/24. There have also been numerous fox sightings in Middletown.

"They haven't been aggressive and we think they have pups right now, so they're out looking for food," DeBenedetto told Patch of the coyotes. "They love to eat groundhogs."

"Coyotes are indigenous to Middletown and they're all over the state of New Jersey," he continued. "We just want people to be aware and alert that they're out there, and to not be startled if they see one. If you see a coyote, we welcome you to contact the Middletown Health Department and report the sighting. Or, you can call the police if the animal is acting aggressively."

In these two most recent cases, the coyotes were not acting aggressively and were seen walking through wooded areas of the Township, near property lines.

However, coyotes have caused problems before in Middletown: In April and May of 2007, two children playing in their yards were attacked by coyotes in Middletown. At the time, police thought one coyote in particular was responsible for the incidents, but the lone animal, or animals, was never found. The children were not seriously injured.

In the winter of 2016, a very large male coyote was seen running around the sand dunes of Sandy Hook. It ran through the streets of Sea Bright, chased by animal control officers, and then into Gateway National Recreation Area, where police think it hunkered down and rode out the winter.

If you see a coyote in Middletown, you do not need to call police. But you are welcome to report the sighting to Middletown Animal Control so they can keep track of how many sightings there have been: 732-615-2097

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