A coyote like this one was caught in Washington Heights on Wednesday morning. (Flickr/ guppiecat)By Nina Mandell and Serena Solomon
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Columbia University students should keep an eye out on their way to class after at least one coyote was spotted lurking outside a campus building.
The wily animal was spied in front of Lewisohn hall on Sunday. A campus police officer saw it with two other animals, the university said in a statement to students.
The NYPD was called in and officers confirmed it was a coyote. Shortly thereafter, the coyote fled the campus, the statement said. There was another unconfirmed sighting hours later, but it wasn't clear whether it was the same coyote.
At least one coyote was spotted in front of Lewisohn Hall at Columbia University. (Flickr user Bfishadow)Campus officers were advised that if they see any coyotes that they call it in and "maintain a visual" on the animal, but not approach it, the statement said.
"Ridiculous. This is New York City," said Kay Lee, 30, an English student from South Korea. He admitted that his main reference point for coyotes came from cartoons and he had never seen one in real life.
"Are they dangerous?" he asked his friends.
Several wild animals have been discovered in Manhattan in recent months, including a coyote that was spotted and tranquilized in Washington Heights on Jan. 21.
But Keegan Lester, 22, points out that's nothing where he's from.
"I went to college in West Virgin so we got bears and stuff there," said the 22-year-old Columbia poetry student. Lester said coyotes, foxes, bobcats and bears were all a common sight.
"I can see people getting scared by seeing that. East Coast kids have only been in urban settings."
Students are advised to call Columbia's Public Safety office immediately at 212-854-5555 if they see a coyote.
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