By Anne Levin

With their pointed ears, slender muzzles, and drooping, bushy tails, coyotes can be mistaken for German shepherds. But coyotes are wild animals that can pose a danger to domestic pets.

In recent weeks, there has been an uptick in sightings of the yellow-eyed “Canis latrans,” the scientific name for the coyote. James Ferry, Princeton’s animal control officer, has been watching the situation since a coyote snatched a small dog, weighing about 15 pounds, from outside a home on Random Road along Route 27 at the end of June.

“We have noticed some activity in Mountain Lakes, Herrontown Woods, and near Littlebrook School,” Ferry said last week. “They’ve kind of always been there. But the number has increased over the last few years.”

While the increase has been gradual, Ferry urges the public to be vigilant about encountering a coyote. “We’re telling folks to yell at it, and throw things at it. Hazing it is a good idea,” he said. “Bang pots and pans. Make them feel as unwelcome as possible.”

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Fish and Wildlife has guidelines on its website (dep.nj.gov/njfw/hungting/coyote-and-fox) to help reduce the likelihood of conflicts with coyotes. Among them: Never feed a coyote, because it puts pets and other residents of the neighborhood at risk. Feeding pet cats and/or feral cats outdoors can attract coyotes, who feed on the pet food and also prey upon the cats. Keep garbage in tight containers, remove sources of water, bring in pets at night, and put away bird feeders at night to avoid attracting rodents and other coyote prey. Pick up fallen fruit and cover compost piles.

While foxes are known to go for mice and similar prey, “coyotes are a little more robust,” Ferry said. “They weight anywhere from 35 to 45 pounds and they live in family groups. So if you see a pack, it’s not a true pack, like wolves. They are usually family units, with a male and female and whatever pups have made it through the summer.”

Although extremely rare, coyotes have been known to attack humans. “Parents should monitor children, even in familiar surroundings, such as backyards,” reads the website.

There is a coyote trapping season, “but there aren’t too many trappers out there,” Ferry said. “It’s not very popular as far as the hunting and trapping community goes.”

The NJDEP is the overall authority on wildlife. “There is no proven way to deal with the coyote population. We do complain to the state,” Ferry said. “And they are what decides if there is any intervention to be done.”

Coyotes usually grab their prey, and run off with it rather than attacking. “It’s not likely, but if there is a coyote attack in progress, absolutely call 911 and the police department will respond,” Ferry said. “And if you have sightings, call the state at (877) 927-6337.”