Rye Brook Residents Reporting More Coyote Sightings to Police

While county and law enforcement officials focus their energy on Rye City after recent coyote attacks on two little girls there, in neighboring Rye Brook, residents have become increasingly vigilant and are reporting sightings to police nearly every day—some are even documenting and photographing the incidents themselves.

As of last week, Rye Brook Police have received reports of more than 16 coyote sightings, which include six sightings in one day on July 1.

The sightings have mostly occurred in one Rye Brook neighborhood, which residents say borders a water basin that may attract coyotes. There were five coyote sightings on Rock Ridge Drive last week, two of which came from the same home. Police also have received reports of coyote sightings on Meadowlark Road, Acker Drive and Magnolia Drive.

Hugo and Katherine Ayala, who have lived in Rye Brook for two years, said they've seen multiple coyotes on or near their 65 Rock Ridge Drive home since May.

The Ayalas saw three more coyotes last week, most recently on July 6 when two juvenile coyotes wandered into their backyard. Mr. Ayala went into the backyard and the animals immediately ran away.

He and his wife have a 2-year-old son, whom Katherine Ayala said isn't allowed to play in their backyard by himself. The Ayalas do not have a fence, just a few wooden planks suspended about three feet high that act as a small barrier around their yard.

Katherine Ayala said the recent coyote attacks in Rye have made her more vigilant about reporting coyote sightings. She said when she reported the incident to police they advised her to call the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The department gave her advice about how to scare away coyotes, such as making loud noises and using spray cans.

Hugo Ayala created a web page to document the coyote sightings, even including pictures of the animals that appeared on his property.

However, his wife said that she expects police to be more aggressive in monitoring the coyote issue.

"I wish they could be a little more proactive out here," Katherine Ayala said.

Lieutenant Eugene Matthews said Rye Brook Police usually visit the location of sightings after they have been reported, but the coyotes are usually long gone once police arrive.

He said more Rye Brook residents are likely reporting coyote sightings because of the incidents in Rye.

"We get them quite often," he said. "They're like any other animal."

But other Rock Ridge Drive residents, like Patty Weisblum, said they are taking extra precautions.

Weisblum said her 18-year-old daughter saw a coyote in the middle of the street around 11 p.m. on July 6, a few feet away from their 48 Rock Ridge Drive home.

Weisblum, who said she has seen only four coyotes in the 18 years that she's lived in Rye Brook, said she does not feel comfortable walking her two dogs—a yellow labrador and a small black mut—outside at night or letting them play in the backyard.

"It makes me very nervous to let them out," she said.

Matthews said the coyotes in Rye Brook do not appear to be as aggressive as the coyotes in Rye, so his department will not undertake the same efforts as authorities in Rye, who have said they will trap and kill coyotes rather than relocate them.

"As long as they're not aggressive, we're just going to monitor their behavior," Matthews said.