Bill Text: NJ AR207 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges DEP to reduce coyote population in NJ.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2025-12-11 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee [AR207 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-AR207-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman DAWN FANTASIA
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
SYNOPSIS
Urges DEP to reduce coyote population in NJ.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution respectfully urging the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to reduce the State's coyote population.
Whereas, A coyote is a dog-like wild animal that was first prevalent in the western United States before it migrated east; and
Whereas, After breeding with wolves, eastern coyotes now have more color variation than western coyotes and are larger than western coyotes, weighing between 30 and 50 pounds; and
Whereas, Coyotes often carry diseases, four of which are only transmissible to animals, such as domestic pets, and four of which are transmissible to humans and animals; and
Whereas, Coyotes generally fear and avoid humans but may habituate, or lose their natural fear of humans, when humans intentionally feed coyotes; and
Whereas, Habituated and diseased coyotes are more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior and attack humans and domestic pets; and
Whereas, The frequency of coyote attacks against adults, children, livestock, and domestic cats and dogs has increased across the United States and Canada in recent years; and
Whereas, Coyote attacks on children are particularly dangerous and often lead to serious injuries; and
Whereas, Since 1980, the number of coyote sightings in New Jersey has increased significantly, and a coyote has been sighted in 400 municipalities and every county in New Jersey; and
Whereas, The risk that a coyote will attack a human or domestic pet increases as the interactions between humans and coyotes in the State increase due to the coyote population expanding into urban and suburban areas; and
Whereas, The Division of Fish and Wildlife in the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is responsible for managing wildlife, including coyotes, and wildlife habitats in the State; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Division of Fish and Wildlife in the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is respectfully urged to reduce the coyote population in New Jersey.
2. Copies of this
resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the
Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the Governor,
the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, and the Director of the Division
of Fish and Wildlife.
STATEMENT
This resolution respectfully urges the Division of Fish and Wildlife (Division) in the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to reduce the coyote population in New Jersey.
Coyotes, a dog-like wild animal, migrated to eastern states, such as New Jersey, from their natural habitat in the western United States. Eastern coyotes have more color variation than western coyotes and, because they bred with wolves, are larger than western coyotes.
Coyotes may carry a variety of diseases, some of which can be transmitted to humans, and may lose their natural fear of humans through habituation. Most often, coyotes habituate when they are fed by humans. Both habituated and diseased coyotes are more likely to attack humans and domestic pets. In recent years, the frequency of coyote attacks throughout the United States has increased. Coyotes will attack adults, children, livestock, and domestic cats and dogs. Coyote attacks on children are particularly vicious and often lead to serious injury.
In New Jersey, the number of coyote sightings has increased since 1980 and coyotes have been sighted in each of the State's 21 counties. As coyotes have expanded their habitat into urban and suburban areas, humans and coyotes increasingly interact and the potential for coyote attacks in the State has increased.
In New Jersey, the Division of Fish and Wildlife in DEP is responsible for protecting wildlife and protecting the public from the dangers of wildlife. Accordingly, the Division should take steps to protect the public from coyotes in the State.
