Coyote Sighting Reported By New Hope Borough Police

NEW HOPE BOROUGH, PA — The New Hope Borough Police Department received a report of a coyote sighting in the borough.

"Coyotes have coexisted with our New Hope community and surrounding neighbors for many years," said police in a social media posting.

Police also offered these helpful tips from the PA Game Commission.

• Coyotes average 35 lbs. and are often confused with a German shepherd dog. They can have several different color patterns.

• If you see a coyote, don’t necessarily assume there is something wrong with it. They are very adaptive to human presence and development.

• Don’t feed coyotes. Whether directly placing food out for a coyote, or keeping pet food outside, throwing scrap food outside, or leaving trash out where it can be utilized, coyotes will take advantage of many food sources, so be sure to keep these unavailable to them.

• Close off any spaces under sheds, porches, or houses. Coyotes will sometimes use these areas for denning and raising young.

• Livestock should be secured in pens, especially overnight.

• Although instances of coyotes being aggressive towards pets are rare, be sure to walk dogs on a leash and don’t leave pets outside unsupervised. Cats should be kept indoors.

• If a coyote approaches you, make yourself as big and loud as possible to scare it away. Keeping coyotes afraid of humans is important for both us and them to coexist.