Coyote Spotted Roaming Central Park, City Says

CENTRAL PARK, NY — A coyote has been spotted on the prowl recently Central Park, city Parks Department officials said.

The last official sighting of the Central Park coyote was on Dec. 15, a city Parks Department spokesperson said. Parks officials told Patch that "at least one coyote has been spending time in Central Park."

The West Side Rag reported that the critter was seen on Dec. 21 near West 82nd Street. Upper West Sider Terry Meehan shared the tip with the publication, saying that the coyote approached him while he was walking his dog.

City parks officials said that 36 coyote sightings have been reported in Manhattan this year as of Dec. 15. Since 2016, there have been 62 reported sightings across the entire city. Multiple reports may be related to the same animal, according to a city Parks Department spokesperson.

New Yorkers should report coyote sightings at the WildlifeNYC website, a Parks Department spokesperson said. Unless there is an immediate danger to public safety, 911 should not be called during a coyote sighting.