Walsh calls for better info sharing on coyotes Public presentation on animals to take place tonight in Middletown BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN - In the wake of a recent rash of coyote sightings and attacks in the area, Democratic candidate for Assembly Patricia Walsh wants the state to do more to report the sightings of these animals to municipalities. Walsh said that through her own research she learned state game officials do require that towns report sightings of animals to them, but that the state is not obligated to report animal activity to adjacent communities. She feels that all departments should give full disclosure of any potential threats to communities wherever possible, whether it relates to coyotes or any threats to local residents. As for the task of controlling the coyote population in town, she feels that even with the multiple sightings over the past few weeks, there is no real organization as far as putting an end to the problem, and it's time to try new methods of handling the situation. "We haven't had much success so far at all," Walsh said. "I would like to see some sort of roundtable discussion with officials from Middletown and Union Beach. I understand that Union Beach may be a nesting area for these animals." Township Administrator Robert Czech said that recently, state and federal officials working on the matter have started using night vision goggles in an effort to try to seek out coyotes. The most recent report of an occurrence involving a coyote took place last Wednesday, when a motorist traveling on Holland Road, near Tatum Park, found a wounded coyote. The police and Middletown Animal Control responded to the scene. The male coyote, which was less than a year old, had been hit by a motor vehicle and was severely wounded and later euthanized. Township Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger said that all calls concerning coyote sightings or attacks go to the police, who then pinpoint just where the occurrences take place so they know to pay special attention to these areas in the near future. In response to Walsh's statement that there needs to be more organization in containing the township's coyote population, he said that Middletown is getting help from the Navy and the state. He also feels that, because the natural mating cycle tends to end by summer, the animals may become less conspicuous in the coming weeks. "If the coyotes do recede, I really don't know what that will mean for tracking purposes," Scharfenberger said. "What I do know is that they will continue to stay on top of the situation as much as possible." Czech did mention that coyotes often give birth to their young in the springtime, thus making this the time of year when they most often go hunting for food. He was also told by Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) officials that in the fall, the coyotes take their young out to teach them how to hunt for their own food. Regardless of what the mayor or Czech say, Walsh still feels that the problem will be omnipresent, just like it has been for awhile. "People are already nervous and concerned because it seems like there's a problem every other day. Even with the sightings, the fact remains that the coyotes are still out there causing problems for the public," Walsh said. In an effort to educate the general public about coyotes, the state DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife will hold a public presentation regarding coyotes tonight at 7:30 at the Middletown Arts Center, 36 Church St., next to the train station.