Coyote found in Riverside Park and tranquilized by police

by: Lisa Chamoff

Posted: Jan 11, 2015 / 04:38 PM EST / Updated: Jan 11, 2015 / 04:40 PM EST

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UPPER WEST SIDE, Manhattan (PIX11) — A coyote was spotted in Riverside Park Saturday night before police officers safely tranquilized the animal and handed it over to Animal Care & Control.

Police said people in the park saw the coyote around 8:30 p.m. near 73rd Street. The NYPD’s 24th Precinct Tweeted about the capture:

Yes- There is a coyote in the UWS tonight (in Riverside Park).We are currently doing our best to humanely trap it.Will update shortly.

— NYPD 24th Precinct (@NYPD24Pct) January 11, 2015

Coyote safely tranquilized and removed to Animal Care & Control. Great job by @nypd20Pct & @nypdspecialops! http://t.co/faSlJQxQtG

— NYPD 24th Precinct (@NYPD24Pct) January 11, 2015

The frigid weather made trapping the coyote a little more difficult.

Sorry for the delay-took a while.Had it corralled inside fenced-in BB court, but so cold out, the tranquilizer in the darts kept freezing!

— NYPD 24th Precinct (@NYPD24Pct) January 11, 2015

Police said the coyote was going to be released into the wild, but in the meantime they have taken a liking to the pup.

NYPD Emergency Services did a great job & the coyote is unharmed (although now she is a little sleepy). The question is: What to name her?

— NYPD 24th Precinct (@NYPD24Pct) January 11, 2015

Coyotes in the city are rare, but not new. In 2010, a coyote was spotted on the Manhattan side of the Holland Tunnel.