Brightwood Park-Coyote Safety
The town closed the park in early July out of an abundance of caution following reports of unusual coyote behavior. After consulting with the Health Department and in consultation with the State Division of Fish Game and Wildlife, the town determined that there is no evidence of any rabid animals in the park.
Coyotes are generally shy and avoid contact with people. However, they may be more likely to seem aggressive if they are mating (January - March) or raising pups (April - August). It is better for coyotes (and humans) if the coyotes prefer to avoid people. Here are some tips in case you encounter a coyote:
If you see a coyote in the Park, even if it is not behaving aggressively, send an email to friendsofbrightwoodpark@gmail.com, so that we can document sightings. Attach a picture, if possible, and identify where you were when the sighting occurred. Explain how the coyote was behaving (approaching or withdrawing), and the makeup of the group you were with (were dogs or children present). This information may help us pin down the location of a den. For more information, see https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-coyotes |