Coyote Attack Reported At South Mountain Reservation In Essex County

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A teen, an adult and a dog were attacked by a coyote at South Mountain Reservation on Friday, authorities say.

The Maplewood Police Department issued an advisory at 4:13 p.m., saying that a person was attacked by a coyote at South Mountain Reservation. Essex County sheriff officers responded to the scene, police noted.

The first victim, a 13-year-old girl, was walking her dog around 3 p.m. in a wooded area near a dog park on Bear Lane in the Maplewood portion of the reservation. Another attack was reported about 90 minutes later in the same area, involving an adult. The conditions of both human victims are unknown, PIX 11 News reported.

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. issued a statement about the situation late Friday afternoon. He wrote:

"An aggressive coyote has been sited in Essex County South Mountain Reservation. With an abundance of caution, we are closing Crest Drive and the South Mountain Dog Park until tomorrow. We ask that anyone visiting the reservation be extremely cautious."

DiVincenzo released an update on the attack Saturday afternoon. He wrote:

"On Friday, an aggressive coyote bit a park visitor and a dog near the dog park in Essex County South Mountain Reservation. Since the incident, we closed Crest Drive and the South Mountain Dog Park. In addition, our parks staff and Sheriff’s Officers have been monitoring the area with the assistance of New Jersey Fish and Wildlife during the last 24 hours. Under the recommendation of NJ Fish and Wildlife and in an abundance of caution to protect the safety of the public, Crest Drive, the South Mountain Dog Park and all picnic and parking areas between South Orange Avenue and Glen Avenue, including Locust Grove, will be closed for the next five days. They will be reopened on Thursday, July 6."

Turtle Back Zoo, Codey Arena and the Recreation Complex by the reservoir are not affected and will remain open, he added.

The South Mountain Reservation, covering 2,112 acres, is a nature reserve that is part of the Essex County Park System. It is located in central in portions of Maplewood, Millburn and West Orange, and borders South Orange, between the first and second ridges of the Watchung Mountains.

A recent resurgence in coyote sightings caused West Orange’s neighbor, Livingston, to issue an advisory to its residents in May. Read More: Coyotes Seen In West Orange – But That's Not New

Sightings of the animals – which play an important role in the ecosystem, experts say – have been uncommon but not rare in West Orange and the surrounding area over the past decade.

Coyote populations are expanding throughout New Jersey, increasing the likelihood of coyotes living in or near developed areas, experts say. Despite this increase, reports of coyote-related damage have remained relatively low. Coyotes are naturally wary of people, and they rarely cause property damage or act aggressively.

But according to one local resident who shared his own coyote encounter with Patch last month, “rare” doesn’t mean “never.”

• See Related: West Orange Resident, Dogs Encounter Coyote Near Reservation

Here are some tips for reducing the likelihood that you’ll run into a conflict with a coyote, state officials say:

DON’T FEED THEM – “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. Past interbreeding between wolves and coyotes may be responsible for the larger size and color variations in the eastern coyote.”

TAKE PRECAUTIONS – “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.”

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com