Lenola Resident Makes Startling Discovery in Backyard

Cindi Lucas-Youmans made a startling discovery when she looked out her kitchen window last Wednesday morning and spotted a fox-like creature standing in her backyard.

The animal, which was standing only a few feet from the chickens Lucas-Youmans keeps in her backyard, looked like a fox, she said, "but it was very tall."

"I went out and yelled," she said. "It just stood there and looked at me, which was very unnerving to me."

After a few moments, the animal trotted back into the wooded area abutting her Lenola Road yard. 

At some point during the commotion, Lucas-Youmans' cat had slipped out the back. Her neighbor came over shortly thereafter, carrying the cat, and said she'd seen the same fox-like animal facing off against the feline, looking like it was about to pounce.

"So she grabbed my cat and walked past this animal—which I can't believe she did—and brought it to me," said Lucas-Youmans.

After scanning pictures online later in the week, she realized what she saw was more than likely a coyote—a not-all-that surprising conclusion, according to Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) spokesman Larry Ragonese.

"That's where they live," said Ragonese. "In many cases, you wouldn't even know you have coyotes living near your house."

He said coyotes have been seen roaming the rural, suburban, and even urban areas of New Jersey for years—all 21 counties and more than 400 municipalities have documented sightings. 

Moorestown Police Lt. Lee Lieber said the department has received reports about coyotes and foxes in the past, though nothing recently. 

Most likely, the coyote in Lucas-Youmans' yard was searching for food, and not just for itself—many coyotes bear litters this time of year. 

Fortunately, coyotes are rarely aggressive toward humans, Ragonese said. Small animals—cats, small dogs, birds—however, could be at risk.

"A small pet could be a meal for a coyote, absolutely," he said. 

Lucas-Youmans and her neighbors have been on the lookout since last week, but there haven't been any further coyote sightings, she said. 

"I grew up in Center City Philadelphia," she said. "This is very unusual to me."

The DEP offers some guidelines to avoid potential conflicts with coyotes:

• Never feed a coyote. Deliberately feeding coyotes puts pets and other residents in the neighborhood at risk.
• Feeding pet cats and/or feral (wild) cats outdoors can attract coyotes. The coyotes feed on the pet food and also prey upon the cats.
• Put garbage in tightly closed containers that cannot be tipped over.
• Remove sources of water, especially in dry climates.
• Bring pets in at night.
• Put away bird feeders at night to avoid attracting rodents and other coyote prey.
• Provide secure enclosures for rabbits, poultry, and other farm animals.
• Pick up fallen fruit and cover compost piles.
• Although extremely rare, coyotes have been known to attack humans. Parents should monitor their children, even in familiar surroundings, such as backyards.
• Install motion-sensitive lighting around the house.
• Clear brush and dense weeds from around dwellings—this reduces protective cover for coyotes and makes the area less attractive to rodents and rabbits. Coyotes, as well as other predators, are attracted to areas where rodents are concentrated like woodpiles.
• If coyotes are present, make sure they know they're not welcome. Make loud noises, blast a canned air siren, throw rocks, or spray them with a garden hose.

Visit this Division of Fish and Wildlife website for more information about coyotes.