Skip to Main Content

Wild coyote statue.

Coyotes: Back in New York City

Field review by the editors.

Bronx, New York

It's a testament to the persistence of Mother Nature that wild coyotes -- yes, coyotes -- have in recent years reappeared within New York City: in Woodlawn Cemetery, Central Park, on the Columbia University campus, and even in trendy Tribeca near the West Side Highway. The first of these modern sightings took place in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, and in 1998 the city decided to pay tribute to the canny canine with a boulder-topping sculpture placed at the park's southwest entrance.

The bronze statue is larger-than-life, and its inscription notes that it commemorates the first confirmed coyote sighting in New York City since 1946. Unfortunately, the 29-pound female was hit and killed on the infamously scary nearby Major Deegan Expressway (You would never know from the statues proud stance that its inspiration was roadkill). The Parks Department found another (injured) coyote that year, put it out of its misery, and had it stuffed. That one served as reference for the husband-and-wife sculpting team of Glenn and Diane Hines, who named the bronze statue "Major" in honor of the coyote's last stand.

A breeding population of coyotes is said to exist within the park. We wish them luck, and hope that their survival skills include avoiding traffic.

Coyotes: Back in New York City

Address:
Van Cortlandt Park S., Bronx, NY
Directions:
The statue stands just inside the southwestern entrance to Van Cortlandt Park, on the corner of Broadway and Van Cortlandt Park S.
Admission:
Free
Save to My Sights

Nearby Offbeat Places

Queen of the Universe Shrine: Mary was HereQueen of the Universe Shrine: Mary was Here, Bronx, NY - < 1 mi.
Last House of Edgar Allan PoeLast House of Edgar Allan Poe, Bronx, NY - 1 mi.
Gates of the Famous from 1995Gates of the Famous from 1995, Bronx, NY - 2 mi.
In the region:
Cathedral of Pizza, New York, NY - 10 mi.

More Quirky Attractions in New York

Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in New York.

Explore Thousands of Unique Roadside Landmarks!

Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. Start here.
Use RoadsideAmerica.com's Attraction Maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Save Cool Vacation Destinations! ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

New York Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

JFK's World Famous Twine Ball, Highland, Wisconsin (Mar 18-24, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings

Favorite Quirky City Sights