Beware Of Coyotes Roaming Through New Preston And New Milford

I've got another 'first-time-in-my-life' wildlife encounter to share with you today, and it comes with a warning for residents of New Milford/New Preston - Coyotes are in the area, be careful of your livestock and pets.

I've lived in Litchfield County for four years now, and in that time I've seen four animals in the wild with my own eyes for the first time in my life. They are - Black Bear, Fisher, Bald Eagle, and now, a coyote. I was driving along 202 near the New Preston/New Milford town line area and saw a grayish-white flash of fur dart across the road about 50 feet in front of me. It stopped on the other side and stared right back at me as I slowed down to get a better look. Yep, it was a Coyote.

Are coyotes common in Connecticut? Yes, and becoming more common. According to Connecticut Fish and Wildlife, Connecticut is rather new territory for coyote, with their push Eastward from the Great Plains states over the past century. Coyote were first reported in Connecticut in 1950, and for years I would hear them outside of my home of the Waterbury/Middlebury/Naugatuck town line. That familiar 'Yip' is bone-chilling in the middle of the night, but seeing one from 10 feet away this morning was wild.

Coyotes are not afraid of humans, and they will eat any small mammal, pet, deer, turkey, or garbage pile that they happen upon. So, do not let your cat out, or leave your dog on a leash. You should never feed a coyote, and if you encounter one in the wild, make loud noise to try to scare it away.