It’s the beginning of the end, folks: the coyotes are coming and no one can stop them.

There was bedlam in Manhattan yesterday as a coyote managed to evade the best efforts of local police and elude capture. In case you were wondering what I meant by ‘best efforts’, this from the New York Times:

After a three-hour chase involving tranquilizer (sic) guns, trucks, patrol cars and helicopters, the police surrendered Riverside Park back to a coyote who, on Wednesday morning, had started its day atop a big rock near 87th Street in the park, then journeyed north toward Grant’s Tomb.

Well played almighty coyote. All that, by the way, despite the fact that the city of New York had recently stated they would leave the animals alone if they stuck to the parks.

The sightings are becoming increasingly frequent, which begs the question as how they will deal with encounters in the future. A NYPD spokesman had this to say:

He predicted that if the pace of sightings continued, the police response would become less intense. ”If this continues to happen, they’re not going to call in helicopters every week,” he said.

Well that’s good to know, I’m sure there are bigger issues at hand. A quick reminder of New York’s most famous coyotes, who are mostly harmless unless you happen to ask for a glass of water.

 Hell no, H20.

[sources:cbs&nytimes]