Homeowners Association Begins New Round of Coyote Trapping

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The Chappaqua community that had trappers catch and kill a coyote--after one attacked a pet--has authorized another round of trapping, the Examiner reported.

The Random Farms Homeowners Association made a second agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a spokeswoman for the department's Wildlife Services division said. “Wildlife Services has advised the association that the plan will not eliminate the presence of coyotes altogether, but will seek to reduce the number of habituated or aggressive coyotes in (the) neighborhood,” Jeanine Neskey told reporter Martin Wilbur.

Meanwhile, Chappaqua resident Victoria Alzapiedi is asking residents to sign a petition against the USDA trappings.

"We are hoping to prevent future killing, as there are many non-lethal, more effective prevention and intervention strategies to address coyote concerns," she said.

The community's concerns about coyotes led last year to two competing committees in New Castle, a conflict which still plays out on Facebook.

SEE: Emotions Run High about Coyotes in New Castle

New Castle has an interactive online Coyote Map. Residents can share and monitor reports of coyote sightings and incidents in town.

There are two categories of behavior that are tracked on the Coyote Map.
Non-Aggressive Behaviors:
1. Sightings: Coyote heard or seen moving through an area. Coyote is seen resting in a yard with no person present outside. Indicated on the map with a green icon
2. Encounter: Coyote is following or approaching a person with or without pets. Coyote enters yard with people and pets present. indicated on the map with a yellow icon
Information regarding non-aggressive behavior can be entered by the public by using this Coyote Report Form. Information will be immediately visible on the map once it is submitted.

Aggressive Behaviors:
1. Unattended Pet Attack: A coyote injures or kills unattended or unleashed pet. Indicated on the map with an orange icon
2. Attended Pet Attack: A coyote injures or kills a pet on-leash or off-leash and under visual observation and voice control. Indicated on the map with an orange icon
3. Provoked Human Attack: Coyote bites human when the human is feeding the coyote, approaching animal with pups, intervening during pet attack or other similar interaction. An attack on a human should be reported to the police immediately. Indicated on the map with an red icon
4. Unprovoked Human Attack: Coyote bites human without provocation. An attack on a human should be reported to the police immediately. Indicated on the map with an red icon
Reports of aggressive behavior should always be reported to the New Castle Police Department at 238-4422. Reports of aggressive behaviors can only be added to the map by the Police Department.
For more information see "Nuisance Species" on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation site for helpful links for preventing or alleviating conflicts between people and coyotes or other wildlife.