The resolution urges the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to take action to reduce the coyote population in the state. Coyotes, which migrated from the western United States and have since adapted to eastern environments, pose a growing threat to public safety due to their increasing numbers and the potential for disease transmission. The resolution highlights the dangers associated with habituated coyotes, which may lose their natural fear of humans, leading to aggressive behavior and attacks on both people and domestic pets. The frequency of such attacks has risen in recent years, particularly concerning for children and livestock.

Since 1980, coyote sightings in New Jersey have surged, with reports from all 21 counties, indicating a significant expansion into urban and suburban areas. This increase in interactions between humans and coyotes raises the risk of attacks. The resolution calls on the Division of Fish and Wildlife within the DEP, which is tasked with managing wildlife and ensuring public safety, to implement measures aimed at controlling the coyote population to mitigate these risks. Copies of the resolution will be sent to relevant state officials to prompt action.