Full Notification

This is an update about the recent coyote attack in Saddle River. Below is the press release and additional information on how you should respond to this event.

PRESS RELEASE

In response to the developments in the recent coyote attack, today, April 8, 2015, the Acting Mayor of Saddle River, Dr. Al Kurpis called an emergency meeting. In attendance were:

Dr. Al Kurpis – Council President, Acting Mayor
Leslie Shenkler - Saddle River Borough Administrator
Chief Timothy McWilliams - Saddle River Police Chief
Captain Jason Cosgriff - Saddle River Police Department
Carol Tyler- TYCO Saddle River Animal Control Officer / Animal Cruelty Officer
Angela Musella - Saddle River Health Officer
Darlene Mandeville - Registered Environmental Health Officer

Today we learned that the coyote responsible for attacking a man earlier this week tested positive for Rabies. In response to this result Officials are implementing the following guidelines to be followed.
• Due to the suspected exposure to a rabid animal one resident immediately started rabies post-exposure vaccination after having an encounter with a coyote.
• As a result of a coordinated effort between Saddle River Police, Saddle River Animal Control and the Department of Fish, Game and Wildlife, the offending animal was captured and euthanized.
• The coyote was brought to the NJ Department of Health and tested positive for rabies. Six dead pups were found in the coyote’s den.
• Currently, The Saddle River Police Department, the Department of Fish, Game and Wildlife are seeking the mate or any other offspring of the rabid coyote.
• At this time, Officials are requesting that no small children or pets should be left unattended outdoors.
• All mammals are susceptible to rabies; rabies is naturally occurring and is well established in our area.
• Normally coyotes are shy animals. According to NJ Department of Health statistics this is only the 6th coyote identified as rabid in the last 25 years.
• All pet owners are reminded to keep their animals up to date on their rabies vaccinations.
• Keeping vaccinations current will prevent a pet from possibly being subjected to a lengthy quarantine or euthanized if it has an encounter with a rabid animal.
• The Health Department reminds everyone to stay clear of all wildlife, especially any that are acting sick or unusually friendly. If you see suspicious acting wildlife please report them immediately to the Saddle River Police Department.
• Any resident that suspects that they or their animals may have been exposed should call the Saddle River Health Office immediately at 201-327-2609 ext. 234
• For more information on rabies visit http://www.nj.gov/health
Or http://www.cdc.gov


Timothy J. McWilliams
Chief of Police





Borough Officials are urging residents to remove all outdoor animal feeding stations. Any domestic animals should be fed indoors to reduce the possibility of transmitting this disease.

Quick Guide to Coyotes:

• Coyotes are members of the dog family and closely resemble a small German shepherd with the exception of their long snout and bushy black- tipped tail. A noticeable difference from a domestic dog is that they have the habit of holding its tail in horizontal position or lower. They can range in colors from blonde, red and black.
• Coyotes primarily hunt for rodents and rabbits for food but will take advantage of whatever is available, including garbage, pet food and domestic animals that are available. Allowing access to human food and garbage is irresponsible and can lead to problems. Attacks on humans are extremely rare. In general, Coyotes are very wary of humans.

Reducing 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 on cats.
• Put garbage in tightly closed container that cannot be tipped over.
• Remove sources of water, especially in dry climates
• 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 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 concentrated like woodpiles.
• If Coyotes are present, make sure they know they are 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 coyotes attacks a person, immediately contact your local police and the Division of Fish and Wildlife at 908 735-8793 outside of normal business hours call the DEP Hotline at 877-Warn-DEP

If you are interested in trapping services below are three trappers as provided by the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish and Wildlife. This listing of trappers does not intend or imply any endorsement by the Borough of Saddle River or the Saddle River Board of Health. Trappers are listed in alphabetic order. For further information please see the NJDEP website: http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/coyote_info.htm




RABIES ADVISORY NOTICE
2015


Rabies is a fatal disease of warm-blooded mammals caused by a virus, most frequently spread through a bite from an infected animal. An infected animal has the rabies virus in its saliva and infects other animals or people through bites and contact with saliva. Once infected animals become ill, they may bite or attack other animals or people.
This notice is being provided to you because you are the owner of an animal which has been exposed to rabies through a bite, contact with a rabid animal, has suffered a wound of unknown origin suspected to be a bite wound, or because your pet has been near or in the same area as a known or suspect rabid animal.

You are advised to notify your local health department and to seek the advice of a veterinarian if your animal(s) shows any of the following clinical signs during the period of observation: fever, loss of appetite, excessive irritability, unusual vocalization, abnormal behavior, restlessness, jumping at noises, unprovoked aggression trouble walking, excess salivation, tremors, convulsions, or paralysis.

Rabies usually begins subtly, with pet owners first noticing that their animal stops eating and “doesn’t seem right.” The pet may then become restless and irritable, have a “strange look in its eyes,” and make funny-sounding cries and barks. As the illness progresses, nervous system impairment becomes more obvious with tremors, difficulty walking and swallowing, and possibly even convulsions and/or paralysis. Affected animals may or may not show signs of aggression and try to attack people of other animals. Livestock animals, e.g., cattle, horses and sheep, usually develop a paralytic or “dumb” form of rabies. These animals will initially be depressed and, as the disease progresses, they may have difficulty swallowing, become weak and uncoordinated, walk in circles, eat nonedible material, and bellow repeatedly. The animal may appear to be choking or dazed and disoriented.

Infected domestic animals can shed the virus in their saliva and potentially infect people and other animals up to 5 days before the first clinical signs of rabies are apparent. Raccoons, skunks and other wildlife can shed the rabies virus in their saliva for up to 2 weeks before clinical signs are apparent and clinical signs may be mild. Persons caring for exposed animals should take precautions to prevent exposure by minimizing contact with the exposed animals and, if contact is necessary, use rubber gloves, eye protection, hand washing and other protective measures.

At the first signs of illness isolate your exposed animal(s) from other animals and people and immediately contact your veterinarian or local health department.

If you have any questions about rabies in dogs, cats and other domestic pets, please contact your local health department (www.localhealth.nj.gov); for questions about livestock, please contact the New Jersey Division of Animal Health at 609-671-6400.

Sites of interest;
http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/coyote_info.htm

http://www.cdc.gov

http://www.nj.gov/health

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/coyotes/tips/hazing_guidelines.html