Coyote on the run in New York's Central Park finally captured
Deepti Hajela
Associated Press
News Day
_______
New York (US):
A wily young coyote made the most of his visit to the Big Apple, at one point leaping over an 8-foot fence as he led dozens of police officers on foot and in a helicopter on a merry chase in Central Park before being captured Wednesday.
"For a coyote to get to midtown, he has to be a very adventurous coyote," said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. Officials said the tawny-colored animal was about a year old and weighed about 35 pounds. Hal proved to be quite adept at avoiding capture, jumping into the water, ducking under a bridge, and scampering through the grounds of an ice skating rink after authorities thought they had him cornered Wednesday morning. Hal was caught near Belvedere Castle, close to 79th Street and Central Park West, around 10 a.m.
All the while, news helicopters hovering overhead tracked every turn in the chase, and it was broadcast around the country. Benepe said a NYPD officer shot the animal with a tranquilizer gun at close range.
Coyote sightings in urban areas are nothing new, but the creatures don't usually venture into the concrete jungle of New York City. The coyote that found its way to Central Park in 1999 is now kept in the Queens Zoo. "It's very unusual to have them in Manhattan," Benepe said.
Deepti Hajela
Associated Press
News Day
_______
New York (US):
A wily young coyote made the most of his visit to the Big Apple, at one point leaping over an 8-foot fence as he led dozens of police officers on foot and in a helicopter on a merry chase in Central Park before being captured Wednesday.
"For a coyote to get to midtown, he has to be a very adventurous coyote," said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. Officials said the tawny-colored animal was about a year old and weighed about 35 pounds. Hal proved to be quite adept at avoiding capture, jumping into the water, ducking under a bridge, and scampering through the grounds of an ice skating rink after authorities thought they had him cornered Wednesday morning. Hal was caught near Belvedere Castle, close to 79th Street and Central Park West, around 10 a.m.
All the while, news helicopters hovering overhead tracked every turn in the chase, and it was broadcast around the country. Benepe said a NYPD officer shot the animal with a tranquilizer gun at close range.
Coyote sightings in urban areas are nothing new, but the creatures don't usually venture into the concrete jungle of New York City. The coyote that found its way to Central Park in 1999 is now kept in the Queens Zoo. "It's very unusual to have them in Manhattan," Benepe said.
