Jogger Captures Video of Close Encounter with Large Coyote in Central Park

A jogger in New York City's Central Park had a hair-raising encounter with a large coyote over the weekend. Brett Cohn was running along the 72nd Street Traverse on Saturday morning when he spotted the animal, initially thinking it was a dog off-leash. However, upon closer inspection, Cohn realized it was a coyote.

Cohn managed to capture part of the encounter on video, which showed the coyote staring at him. "I was running in Central Park this morning at around 6am, and on the 72nd Street Traverse I encountered a large coyote," Cohn wrote when sharing the video on social media. "The coyote was not aggressive, and I slowly backed away, but it was definitely a scary experience!"

The New York City Department of Parks confirmed that coyotes have been spotted in multiple boroughs and in Central Park in recent years. They stated that this particular coyote does not appear to pose a threat to human safety, but advised people to keep their distance and avoid close contact.

Why this matters: The encounter highlights the growing presence of coyotes in urban areas like New York City. As coyotes expand their territory due to the availability of food and space to roam, it raises concerns about potential human-wildlife conflicts and the need for public awareness on how to safely coexist with these wild animals.

According to the Parks Department, coyotes are generally shy and prefer to avoid humans, but they can become defensive if they feel threatened. If approached by a coyote, people are advised to make themselves look bigger by raising their arms and making loud noises to scare the animal away. The department also urges the public to properly dispose of garbage and avoid feeding coyotes, as access to human food can make them bolder around people.

Cohn said the coyote in his encounter was not aggressive, and the two simply acknowledged each other without any threatening behavior. "The coyote was just looking at me, and I was looking at it," he recounted. Despite the close call, Cohn plans to continue running the same route in Central Park, noting that coyote sightings are becoming more common in the city.

Key Takeaways

• Jogger in NYC's Central Park had close encounter with a large coyote.
• Coyotes have been spotted in multiple NYC boroughs and Central Park.
• Coyotes generally avoid humans but can become defensive if threatened.
• Public advised to avoid close contact, dispose of garbage properly, and not feed coyotes.
• Coyote sightings are becoming more common in NYC, despite the close call.