Samantha Impaglia 
Coyotes are known to be present in all 21 New Jersey counties, and have been an established species in the Garden State since at least the late 1930s. The member of the wild dog family has an extremely adaptable nature and has been found in both rural and suburban environments, which from time to time ends up in a run-in with humans. Over the past two months, four separate coyote attacks have been reported in Bergen County, with three in Saddle River and one in Woodcliff Lake. To help you stay aware and protect yourself when a coyote is spotted in your area, The Bergen Girl is covering what you need to know. Read on for more background about the attacks and how to protect yourself and your pets from coyotes in Bergen County, New Jersey.
About the Attacks
There have been four reported coyote attacks in Bergen County since September 2025. The most recent encounter occurred on the evening of October 21st in Saddle River around 6:30PM, when an aggressive coyote attacked and injured a resident who was working in their yard, per ABC7 NY. The resident was bitten multiple times and taken to the hospital for treatment. The coyote, which was described to ABC7 NY by police officers as a “visibly sick animal with no fear of humans,” was euthanized and taken to animal control for testing.
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Another encounter occurred just after 1PM on Monday, October 20th, where a housekeeper on Woodcrest Drive in Woodcliff Lake was bitten by a coyote while outside with the family’s golden retriever, per CBS News. The woman was bitten on her back and leg but sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and has since received vaccines and returned home. Woodcliff Lake Police Captain Chad Malloy told CBS News that this is the first time a coyote attack has occurred in the Bergen County town.
In late September, a coyote was euthanized after two people were attacked while walking dogs in Saddle River. Per ABC7 NY, the first attack happened near Chestnut Ridge Road and Werimus Brook Road on the evening of September 25th. The second attack happened on the morning of September 26th near Chestnut Ridge Road and North Church Road. Both victims were treated for bite wounds. Two coyotes were then located by authorities — one was found dead, and the other was euthanized after acting abnormally.
The Bergen Girl has reached out to the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and Bergen County Animal Control and this post will be updated with any further information.
How to Protect Yourself from Coyotes
Since coyotes are present in every New Jersey county, it’s important to know how to protect yourself, your children, your pets, and your property. While the New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife noted that it is rare for a coyote to attack a human, the department has the following information about reducing the likelihood of conflicts with coyotes on its website:
- 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.
- 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.
If you observe coyotes in the daytime that show no fear of humans or if a coyote attacks a person, immediately contact your local police and NJ Fish and Wildlife at 908-735-8793. Outside of normal business hours call the DEP Hotline at 877-WARN-DEP.
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