Letter: Coyotes Can Be Safely Removed From North Shore Towns

Recently there was another attack on a family pet by coyotes in the Chicago suburbs. There was the usual talking points by the media after the attack, so what is the problem you ask? The problem is that if the communities continue with their policies of co-existence with coyotes more pets will be attacked. California is a prime example of this problem, they have had a co-exist policy for a long time but they also have the highest total of attacks on people by coyotes in the country which indicates co-exist polices do not work in favor of pets or people.

A coyote that has attacked a pet needs to be removed otherwise it will attack again because the coyote has now learned that it can get away with that behavior.

Another talking point is, If we remove the offending coyote, more coyotes will replace it. It will be interesting to note that statement never has been scientifically proven.

But by removing the coyote/coyotes that attacked the pet you can guarantee that coyote will not harm any more pets.

Another talking point is that there have been no coyote attacks on people in Illinois, I just read a warning about coyotes in the New Lenox area that quoted the Illinois Department of Natural Resources stating that the have been sixteen people bitten by coyotes in Illinois over the past thirty years. Yes, coyote bites are fairly rare but will increase with the current co-exist policies, our coyotes are no different than the California coyotes, only ours are a bit larger.

We do agree with one of the talking points however, never feed coyotes, that will create serious problems for you and your neighbors.

With modern methods, offending coyotes can be removed safely from your community and insure that coyote/coyotes will not harm any more pets.

Please look at our website for more science based coyote information in our blog.

By Rob Erickson and Dave Munch of Scientific Wildlife Management

Coyote sightings can be reported online to Scientific Wildlife Management