Coyote Concerns In Hinsdale: Village Official

HINSDALE, IL – A Hinsdale trustee said Tuesday that residents have concerns about coyotes in town.

"I know I had one sleeping in our backyard," Trustee Michelle Fisher said at a Village Board meeting.

In a statement on its website a week ago, the village said the police department has no recorded incidents of coyote attacks on humans or pets, even though officers frequently receive reports of coyote sightings.

According to the Forest Preserve of DuPage County, dogs are responsible for nearly 900 bites in the county every year, yet the county has no documented case of a coyote biting a human.

"In many instances across the country, coyote encounters that resulted in bites occurred after individuals fed these animals," the village said. "Coyotes are generally shy and elusive. They tend to be more active during dawn and dusk, but sightings can occur at any time. Typically, they avoid humans and do not exhibit aggressive behavior."