"Beware Of Coyotes!" Town of Bedford Issues Alert To Residents

BEDFORD, NY — The Town of Bedford says that the "Beware of Coyotes!" official public notice e-mailed to area residents is not in response to a specific incident or coyote sighting. Instead, the ominously titled alert is intended to make citizens aware that late-winter/early-spring season is a time of the year when interactions with the coyotes known to be in the area might be more perilous - especilly for family pets.

"Coyotes give birth at the end of winter, and in February and March coyotes will aggressively defend their dens," the special public notice warns. "Throughout the spring, coyotes will hunt more frequently to provide for their newborns. Around this time, animals such as dogs and cats are potential targets, along with other small pets. We encourage you to use caution when your pets are outside (particularly at night) and be alert of any coyote sightings in your area."

The e-mailed advisory also provided a helpful link to information to help local residents identify coyotes and distinguish coyotes from wolves and dogs. The nearby town of Pound Ridge has also confirmed that coyotes "have moved to town." The Pound Ridge Conservation Board, however, considers the coyotes to be, in most cases, good neighbors. "As predators, they are keeping the turkey and geese populations in somewhat of a balance," the board noted in a recently published local coyote informational pamplet.

"Coyotes will approach a home looking for food, water or shelter," Pound Ridge officials wrote, also urging the public to exercise special caution in the upcoming weeks. "April through June is the peak of coyote pup rearing activity when they will have a higher demand for food - so taking some simple steps now is prudent."