He’s a lone wolf no more.
A male coyote that’s been known to roam Central Park has reportedly found a partner-in-crime, and it’s causing quite a stir.
Recently released video shows what appears to be a female coyote traveling with the male jackal, which experts say is indicative that the two are a pair. The video is from March, but it took experts months to confirm their relationship status, CBS News reported.
Coyote sightings in the Big Apple have become more common in recent years with the number first spiking in 2019, according to Parks Department data. The wild pups particularly favor Central Park to take up residence 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 lady friend likely arrived from outside the city, CBS News reported.
“Animals have learned to adapt. So maybe they joined together so their survival will be better,” Certified animal control officer Carol Tyler told the station. “They’re not fearful and they will take whatever means to get into an area they want to.”
Whether for survival or love, the pairing is expected to stick. Coyotes are serial monogamists and typically mate for life.
A close relative of the wolf, coyotes — also known as American jackals — have been spotted in or around New York since the 1930s, according to the Central Park Conservancy. The organization said that coyotes are typically shy and avoid people, but did stress the importance of “respecting [their] space” by at least 150 feet, if feasible.
The Conservancy also advised park-goers to keep dogs leashed, even during off-leash hours, adding that while coyotes are creatures of the night, they aren’t nocturnal.
“Make sure that your dog stays within your sight at all times,” the Central Park Conservancy said.
