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Multiple Dens Of Coyotes Spotted In Bergen County Community

Update Wednesday, April 22: The coyote captured earlier this week has tested positive for rabies, according to Norwood police.

NORWOOD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) – A New Jersey community is on edge after multiple coyote sightings have been reported in Bergen County.

It's like a coyote village behind a home on Summit Street in Norwood, as four coyote dens were found in the wooded area of the backyard, CBS2's Meg Baker reported.

"They need to get this under control," said homeowner Frank Spadaccini. "Granted, coyotes have a place, but in this kind of suburbia ... neighborhood, this is not the place."

An aggressive coyote was caught in Norwood earlier this week, authorities said, but now animal control officers fear there are more out there after spotting two dens in the neighborhood.

The Norwood Elementary School is just down the block from where the coyotes have been lurking, Baker reported.

Norwood Public School has cancelled all outdoor gym, recess and after school activities due to the coyote concern.

"We just have to err on the side of caution until this fizzles out," Superintendent Bert Ammerman said.

Parents of children who attend the school are also on alert.

"It was running around the school and it was really scary," Norwood student Ella Perez said.

"My mom almost didn't let us go to school today because she didn't want us walking because of the  coyotes," Thomas Gillon said.

On Monday, a coyote had bitten Stephen Sinisi in the leg outside his home on D'Ercole Court, resulting in him getting four rabies shots.

"I tried to get in the house fast because he wasn't going away," Sinsi said, recounting the nerve-wracking moments a coyote chased him and his dog.

"As soon as I got up close enough, I knew it wasn't a dog, I knew it was a coyote," he said. "I got the dog in the door and as soon as I got indoors, I didn't see it, I felt something at my ankle."

Norwood coyote
(Credit: Caesar Argenti)

Multiple Dens Of Coyotes Spotted In Bergen County Community, Authorities Say

Authorities said they have set up traps baited with raw chicken near the school to help catch the animals.

"They have placed traps throughout the Fox Hill section of Norwood, traps to capture the coyote, and I believe also at the same time now have placed some by the Norwood Public School," Mayor James Barsa told WCBS 880's Sean Adams.

Norwood coyote
(Credit: Mia Kim)

"We are baiting and setting traps and hopefully we can eradicate the dens behind the house," said Norwood Police Chief Jeffrey Krapels.

Animal Control said the coyotes are probably very aggressive because they are trying to protect their babies.

Multiple Dens Of Coyotes Spotted In Bergen County Community, Authorities Say

"Children, small dogs, keep all dogs inside until we can eradicate this problem," Police Chief Jeffrey Krapels said.

On Monday night, the Spadaccini family said one of the animals attacked the tires of a police car near their home on Villa Court.

"It's just running down the street, didn't care, going up to cars, biting tires," Frank Spadaccini said

A hole the coyotes burrowed in the yard leads right to the Norwood school, CBS2 reported.

"They got one but there's definitely more back there. At midnight we heard barking and screeching so there more out there," Joanna Spadaccini said.

The Spadaccinis' had initially called police to check out the dens after seeing the coyotes lurking in their yard.

On Sunday, Liz Lindley's morning stroll through Highland Field turned into a terrifying sprint when a coyote came out of the woods and ran after her.

"It was probably just a few minutes. It felt like an eternity," she told CBS2's Tracee Carrasco.

Lindley believes that may have been the same coyote that attacked a man who was walking his dog later that day.

Multiple Dens Of Coyotes Spotted In Bergen County Community, Authorities Say

"The problem in New Jersey is that we have a lot of areas that don't allow hunting or trapping so these animals have lost fear of humans," John Nesti said, a wildlife official.

Tony McBride with the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife said generally coyotes want to stay away from people.

Within minutes of several coyote sightings on nearby Parsons Road Tuesday morning, an email from Willard Elementary School went out to parents, advising them to exercise caution when walking their children into school.

Paul, the father of a fourth and sixth-grader, praised the school for their quick action.

"The school was very proactive. We have not heard from the police or any other village officials but the school has done a nice job of alerting the immediate community," he told 1010 WINS' Roger Stern.

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