Peter Hoffman, who can see this view of Brookdale Park from house on Emerson Terrace in Bloomfield, heard a racket last night about 4 a.m. and discovered coyotes roaming the neighborhood. Here is his account.

Heard an animal screaming (think it was raccoon who frequents yard, saw him later he is ok) went downstairs, two of my kitties are onpoint looking out window. Saw two coyotes at neighbors, went out yelled, they ran in park, then went in my backyard, went on deck yelled some more. They leisurely went back in park and disappeared into darkness. Local pet owners need to be aware.

18 replies on “Coyote Sighting in Brookdale Park”

  1. So true about pet owners needing to be aware………don’t let your dog out alone. At night put your dog on a leash and walk him near the house. This way you can pull him in quickly if you need to.

  2. What exactly does one yell out to a raccoon? Perhaps you can hand them tiny little shovels and yell “Five bucks to go over to Bloomfield Ave and help?”

  3. If you have cats, keep them inside, PLEASE! There was an incident in Verona where a coyote was dragging a cat off in its mouth. The cat’s owner started screaming at the coyote and the cat was dropped and was OK, but don’t let that happen to your cat!

  4. Here are some steps you can take to reduce the chance of human-coyote conflicts:

    Don’t leave small children unattended outside if coyotes have been frequenting the area.

    Do not feed coyotes!

    Eliminate sources of water, particularly in dry climates.

    Do not discard edible garbage where coyotes can get to it.

    Secure garbage containers and eliminate garbage odors.

    Feed pets indoors whenever possible. Pick up any leftovers if feeding outdoors. Store pet and livestock feed where it is inaccessible to wildlife.

    Trim and clean, near ground level, any shrubbery that provides hiding cover for coyotes or prey.

    Fencing your yard could deter coyotes. The fence should be at least 6 feet high with the bottom extending at least 6 inches below ground level for best results.

    Don’t leave small children unattended outside if coyotes have been frequenting the area.

    Don’t allow pets to run free. Keep them safely confined and provide secure nighttime housing for them. Walk your dog on a leash and accompany your pet outside, especially at night. Provide secure shelters for poultry, rabbits, and other vulnerable animals.

    Discourage coyotes from frequenting your area. If you start seeing coyotes around your home or property, chase them away by shouting, making loud noises or throwing rocks.

  5. The coyotes are on the prowl in Oakview Section of Bloomfield. I spotted a coyote two nights in a row on the street behind my house. All the dogs in the neighborhood were going insane, so I stepped outside to see what was going on and there it was.
    Pet owners in Oakview also need to be especially careful with their small pets because we also have two hawks that have moved in. Saw one swoop in and snatch a sparrow from my neighbor’s bush and another seemed to be trying to decide the best way to take off with one of my dogs.

  6. I saw wild turkeys on Belleville Avenue in Bloomfield. There is a whole flock of them roaming that neighborhood. I know nothing to do with coyotes but there were huge birds!

  10. It was a matter of time. Surprised that there aren’t more sightings in Mills and Eagle Rock. Trash cans are probably pretty attractive this time of year.

  15. The best way to eliminate coyotes is to get a Roadrunner to drop a 500-pound weight on both of their heads. Beep! Beep!

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