Coyote running wild in New York City prompts massive police hunt

New York police have been unable to catch the wily predator

(NYPD 24th Precinct/Twitter)

The New York Police Department launched a massive search in the city’s upscale Upper West Side neighbourhood after a coyote was spotted on the loose in the city, the Associated Press reported.

The coyote sighting in Manhattan comes days after a coyote mauled a man and his dog in New Jersey, just across the river from New York City. There is no indication that the wily animal seen in the Upper West Side is the one responsible for the attack earlier this week, but is another example of coyotes becoming more common in the New York area.

The massive search proved fruitless, as New York police had as much luck capturing the predator as its animated ancestor had catching the road runner. NYPD called off the search after several hours and the coyote remains on the lam.

“He's in the wind,” said Detective Martin Speechley, a police department spokesman.

NYPD will be keeping an eye out for the predator and if it is found – healthy and without having attacked anyone – it will be transported to a wilderness area in a Bronx park, the AP reported.

In the meantime, Manhattan dog walkers should take care when out with their pets.

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