Update Feb. 28
Since the first article ran, five coyotes have been sighted at three locations in New Canaan—today, two on East Cross Road and one on Lakeview Avenue. We have updated the searchable map below, and will continue to do that as more coyotes are spotted here.
Original Article
Recent reports of a coyote seen on Michigan Road marked the fourth reported sighting of the species in New Canaan in 2014 and third this month, raising fears well ahead of the animal’s high season, officials say.
The Feb. 17 sighting of a gray coyote followed a Feb. 12 sighting on Long Lots Road, according to Officer Maryann Kleinschmitt of the New Canaan Police Department’s animal control unit.
“[Residents] hear the howling of coyotes and there is fear,” Kleinschmitt told NewCanaanite.com.
Here’s an interactive map plotting coyote sightings in 2014—click on the orange dots for details. We’ll keep this updated. (The article continues below.)
Typically, the birthing season for coyotes in this area kickstarts between March and May, Kleinschmitt said, depending on how quickly the town warms up in spring. When coyotes appear in a neighborhood—or even a rare red coyote, a coyote-red wolf mix that was seen in December on Tobys Lane—residents with pets such as cats and dogs are encouraged to keep them inside when unsupervised.
Here's a pic of a coyote spotted Feb. 22 at Silvermine and Valley Roads—the animal is large and has a reddish tint to its hair. A "red coyote"—combination of a gray coyote and red wolf—had been seen in December up on Tobys Lane. Credit: Michelle L
A recent incident on Rural Drive shows why. There, on the evening of Feb. 11, police responded to a report that the tattered remains of a duck had been discovered.
“The animal was torn apart and brought to a portion of Rural Drive to be finished off,” Kleinschmitt said. “It definitely was an animal. The duck was dead, its neck and part of its spine were found on Rural Drive but there was no blood, so it may have been killed elsewhere.”
“It probably was a coyote or a raccoon,” Kleinschmitt added. “Either one of those could have done that.”
My kids and I saw one yesterday around 9am walking across the frozen section of Silvermine River then up our driveway right up near our house. This is our third sighting of one walking the same route crossing over our stone bridge. The only diffence is this time the coyote (if it’s the same one) appears to have been eating quite well since our last sighting.
Thanks for posting, Michelle. If you want, I can update the map. Just shoot me the address or intersection where you saw the coyote (I’m at mike@newcanaanite.com or you can post in the thread here). If you also wanted to let the animal control unit know, I know that Officer Kleinschmitt would appreciate it. She likes to keep track, especially in cases where dogs are reported missing, to help assess what may be going on in our neighborhoods. She can be reached at 203-594-3510. Thanks again!
Rt.106 and Valley Road.
I reported our previous sighting to Officer Kleinschmitt but not yesterday’s.
I am fairly certain yesterday’s sighting was a coyote-red wolf mix.
Wow, if that’s what you saw, I wonder if it’s the same one spotted up at Tobys Lane in December. From what Officer Kleinschmitt had said to me, it’s extremely rare to see even one of those down this far south.
OK map updated—thanks again, Michelle.
Note: Two more coyotes were spotted Feb. 25 in the area of 1195 Ponus Ridge, animal control says. We have updated the map in this article.