He is no longer a loner.
A male coyote who has been known to roam Central Park has reportedly found a partner in crime, and it’s causing a stir.
Newly released video shows what appears to be a coyote traveling with the male jackal, which experts say indicates the two are a pair. The video is from March, but it took months for experts to confirm their relationship status, It was reported by CBS News.
Coyote sightings in the Big Apple have become more common in recent years with the number first nailing in 2019according to Parks Department data. Especially the wild puppies favors Central Park to settle but have been seen in four of the five boroughs.
Just this past weekend, a coyote was spotted wandering around the Cherry Hill area of Central Park.
The Gotham Coyote Project said the male coyote’s new friend probably arrived from outside the city, CBS News reported.
“Animals have learned to adapt. So maybe they joined together so that their survival is better, certified animal control officer Carol Tyler told the station. “They are not afraid and they will take any means to get into an area they want.”
Whether it’s for survival or love, the couple is expected to stick together. Coyotes are serial monogamists and usually mate for life.
A close relative of the wolf, coyotes – also known as American jackals – have been seen in or around New York since the 1930s, according to the Central Park Conservancy. The organization said coyotes are usually shy and avoid humans, but stressed the importance of “respecting [their] space” by at least 150 feet, if possible.
The Nature Conservancy also advised park visitors to keep dogs leashed, even on open leashes, adding that while coyotes are creatures of the night, they are not nocturnal.
“Make sure your dog is within sight at all times,” the Central Park Conservancy said.