Full Notification

SADDLE RIVER- UPDATE- Coyote sent for testing has tested POSITIVE FOR RABIES- More info@

On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, a resident in the area of Oak Road, reported a coyote had attacked him while he was in his yard.  The victim suffered minor injuries and self-transported to the hospital for treatment.  The Saddle River Police Department responded to the area and investigated.  The coyote was located and identified by the victim as the aggressive animal.  It was showing obvious signs of illness and was euthanized by patrol officers.  TYCO Animal Control also responded to the scene and took the deceased animal to be sent for disease testing. We can now confirm that the test has come back positive for rabies in that animal.  We are working with TYCO Animal Control and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife to best ensure public safety.  Coyotes are not rare in our borough and play an important role in our ecosystem.  Due to recent events, we encourage residents to be aware of their surroundings while outside, especially in the presence of pets and children.  Immediately report any sightings of sick or aggressive animals to our department.  If you have an encounter with a coyote that seems tame, or has lost its natural fear of humans, please report that to our police department immediately.
 
Coyote Precautions
https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/wildlife/coyote/

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.


If you observe a coyote that shows no fear of humans, appears sick or acts aggressively towards a person or domestic animal, immediately contact your local police and the Division of Fish and Wildlife at 908-735-8793; outside of normal business hours call the DEP Hotline at 877-WARN-DEP.
 

Instructions:

Immediately report any sightings of sick or aggressive animals to our department. If you have an encounter with a coyote that seems tame, or has lost its natural fear of humans, please report that to our police department immediately.