Village of Irvington Statement Regarding Coyote Incident
The Village of Irvington is advising residents of a coyote incident that occurred this morning, October 19, in the vicinity of Mercy University and the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail.
At approximately 8:30 a.m., Irvington Police officers responded to a report of a coyote sighting near Mercy University. While officers were canvassing the area, additional reports were received of a coyote behaving aggressively toward an individual on the Aqueduct Trail.
Officers subsequently located the animal in a nearby field. During the response, an officer discharged a firearm, striking the coyote. The animal fled into a wooded area and could not be located.
Greenburgh Animal Control responded to assist the Irvington Police Department in attempting to locate the animal. Despite these efforts, the coyote has not been located.
The Irvington Police Department will continue to monitor the situation and respond to additional sightings or reports as necessary.
Ongoing Village Response
At our October 5 meeting, the Board of Trustees held an information session with the Chief of Police to discuss the process and plan for continuing to address this issue. Watch the meeting recording here. We are working with neighboring villages, as well as our Police and DPW departments, to finalize a coordinated response plan. The Village has received approval from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for a permit authorizing the trapping and destruction of coyotes.
Please follow this protocol:
- Emergency: If you encounter an aggressive coyote or feel you are in immediate danger, call 911.
- Sightings: To report a coyote sighting, please call the Police Desk at (914) 591-8080.
As soon as the comprehensive response plan is finalized and approved, we will share the details with the community.