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Township of Fairfield
Friday June 14th, 2019 :: 02:54 p.m. EDT

Advisory

Hollywood Avenue Coyote in the Park update.

6/14/19-  COYOTE IN THE PARK UPDATE-  There will continue to be a police presence in the park at this time along with increased police patrols in the Big Piece Road area.  The Department of Fish and Game were present earlier today and set several traps in hopes of catching any other coyotes.  They were able to identify several dens in the area as well and will be monitoring them over the next several days.

There still exists a population of coyotes in the area and we cannot be sure that another incident will not occur.  Anyone using the park as well as those travelling in the Big Piece Road area should exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings.  Try to remain in pairs or groups, carry a charged cell phone, keep dogs on leashes while walking and do anything else you may feel would be necessary to protect your safety.

The Fairfield Recreational Complex located at 221 Hollywood Avenue will have limited operations.  The following entrances to the park are CLOSED until further notice: Green Meadows Road entrance, Holly Drive entrance, Big Piece Road Entrance.  All closed entrances are closed by orange barrels and caution tape.  Please do not walk around or remove these items.  They are there for your protection.

The following precautions come directly from the NJ Fish and Game website, which can be found at www.fishandgame.com .

 

Coyote Precautions

The following guidelines can help reduce the likelihood of conflicts with coyotes:

  • Never feed a coyote. Deliberately feeding coyotes puts pets and other residents in the neighborhood at risk.
  • Feeding pet cats and/or feral (wild) cats outdoors can attract coyotes. The coyotes feed on the pet food and also prey upon the cats.
  • Put garbage in tightly closed containers that cannot be tipped over.
  • Remove sources of water, especially in dry climates.
  • Bring pets in at night.
  • Put away bird feeders at night to avoid attracting rodents and other coyote prey.
  • Provide secure enclosures for rabbits, poultry, and other farm animals.
  • Pick up fallen fruit and cover compost piles.
  • Although extremely rare, coyotes have been known to attack humans. Parents should monitor their children, even in familiar surroundings, such as backyards.
  • Install motion-sensitive lighting around the house.
  • Clear brush and dense weeds from around dwellings - this reduces protective cover for coyotes and makes the area less attractive to rodents and rabbits. Coyotes, as well as other predators, are attracted to areas where rodents are concentrated like woodpiles.
  • If coyotes are present, make sure they know they're not welcome. Make loud noises, blast a canned air siren, throw rocks, or spray them with a garden hose.
  • Coyotes are typically secretive animals not often seen or heard. Yet there are times during the year when they are more visible and more vocal. Although usually nocturnal, coyotes can be seen any time of day, especially during the breeding season from late January into early March. Vocalizations, consisting of howls, yips and barks, also increase at this time.

If you have any questions, they can be reached toll free, 24 hours a day at 877-927-6337.

 If an emergency exists, though, please dial 9-1-1 for the Fairfield Police.

Address/Location
Township of Fairfield
230 Fairfield Rd
Fairfield, NJ 07004

Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 973-227-1400

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221 Hollywood Ave
Fairfield, NJ 07004

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