On April 8, 2017 at approximately 2:30 pm the Wilton Police Department received a report of an encounter between a dog and coyote on the Wilton Loop of the Norwalk River Valley Trail (NRVT) south of Sharp Hill Road.
The involved dog was leashed, however, broke free of its owner upon observation of the coyote. Contrary to earlier reports, the dog was not injured during the encounter.
Check the NRVT Facebook Page regularly for updates on trail opening.
According to the Humane Society, "Coyotes who have adapted to urban and suburban environments may realize there are few real threats and may approach people or feel safe visiting yards even when people are present. These coyotes have become habituated (lost their fear of humans) and have become accustomed to feeding upon in your neighborhood."
The Humane Society offers some tips to keep you and your pets safety when in the presence of coyotes.
- Never run away from a coyote!
- The coyote may not leave at first, but if you approach them closer and/or increase the intensity of your hazing, they will run away.
- If the coyote runs away a short distance and then stops and looks at you, continue hazing until he leaves the area entirely.
- After you have successfully hazed a coyote, they may return. Continue to haze the coyote as you did before; it usually takes only one or two times to haze a coyote away for good.