PENNINGTON: Police: Keep watch for coyotes in area

By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
   Several coyote sightings in the vicinity of ball fields on Green Street in Pennington Borough have been reported during the past few weeks and Pennington Borough police have issued some guidelines and advice on the matter.
   Sgt. Steve Friedman said Friday that coyotes are native to this area, but they are reclusive animals that try to avoid human contact and so are rarely seen.
   ”There is no problem with coyotes in open areas exhibiting typical behaviors, usually late at night or early in the mornings,” the sergeant said.
   However, anyone seeing a bold coyote coming near human activity during the day should call the police, he added.
   Call 737-2020 to be connected to an officer or a dispatcher. Voice mail for borough police is at 737-1679. For emergencies, call 9-1-1.
   If unusual coyote behavior patterns are identified, police will notify animal wildlife officials and have them take appropriate action.
   Sgt. Friedman said “experts encourage parents to show young children photographs of coyotes to help them recognize the animals and also to explain to children that coyotes have always lived in this area.”
   Police say that anyone encountering a coyote should not run away.
   ”You should act aggressively by yelling, waving your arms, stamping your feet, or thowing stones until it leaves,” the sergeant said. “This will let it know it is unwelcome. Do not approach it. Return slowly indoors until it leaves.”
   Coyotes should never be fed, he added, even by inadvertently allowing them access to pet food left outside or in household refuse.
   Following these guidelines “will discourage coyotes from becoming acclimated to unsuitable areas, such as residential neighborhoods,” he concluded.
   Green Street runs north-south in central Pennington, a block to the west of North Main Street. Green Street runs north from West Delaware Avenue to West Franklin Avenue. The ballfields on the western side of Green Street are separated from a CSX railroad track by a narrow, dense thicket of woods.