Nature always finds a way.

**truth** · 12-23-2003, 10:57 AM

(Northbrook is a suburb 20 miles north of Chicago, I grew up there.)

Pet owners report attacks by coyotes
Northbrook has several incidents
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By Courtney Flynn
Tribune staff reporter

December 23, 2003

Twice a day for 20 years, Esther Pora has enjoyed peaceful walks with her dogs in a Northbrook forest preserve, where she has let them run freely without leashes.

But that pleasure turned to fear in late November when she watched two coyotes attack her 5-year-old Dalmatian, Beaumont, who narrowly escaped but required stitches in 11 places on his body.

Since late October, Beaumont and two other dogs in east Northbrook have been attacked, including one killed by what officials believe is a large male coyote, sometimes accompanied by his mate.

"I just kept thinking, `What if these coyotes had attacked a child?'" said Pora, 61. "That is scary."

As officials mull their options, they are warning residents in wooded neighborhoods not to leave their pets unattended and to make sure pets are on a leash when walking them through forest preserves.

"In a short period of time, we've had a lot of circumstances where [coyotes have] been either confronting, attacking or watching dogs in their yards," said Gina Manski, Northbrook police's animal control officer. "That's why we're getting concerned about their behavior."

The latest attack was on Dec. 1, when a coyote went after a small dog in a back yard along Trails Edge Drive, Manski said.

On Nov. 29, Beaumont was attacked in Chipilly Woods. On Oct. 29, a coyote killed a mixed-breed dog near Trails Edge, Manski said.

Northbrook isn't the only community where coyotes have been spotted recently. This month, officers from the Chicago Department of Animal Care and Control and the Police Department captured a coyote near Navy Pier.

In March 2001 residents in the Eagle Brook Country Club area of Geneva reported coyote sightings and attacks on pets. In August 2000 coyotes were seen lurking around homes in Libertyville Township.

Statewide, there are more than 20,000 coyotes, most of which do not harm pets or people, said Bob Bluett, a wildlife biologist with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Although it is fairly rare for a coyote to attack dogs and cats, the attacks are happening more often as the wild animals have grown accustomed to living near residential areas, Bluett said.

"They're foraging around the houses for what they can get," Bluett said. "Once one finds out there's an easy meal to get from attacking cats and small breeds of dogs, they go with it."

In winter months it can be more common for coyotes to target pets because the coyotes' food supply becomes scarce as small mammals hibernate, Manski said.

In the last decade, reports of coyotes attacking pets have increased, particularly in northeastern Illinois, Bluett said.

The state issues permits to companies that capture coyotes, often as a means of pest control. In 1993 they caught 56 coyotes, Bluett said. Last year, they caught 321.

Northbrook has several options for dealing with its coyote problem, Bluett said. The easiest solution might be to set a padded foothold trap, he said.

Shooting coyotes probably is not practical in a suburban setting, he said. Officials could also try a wire mesh cage trap, but the traps have a low success rate, Bluett said.

Northbrook does not have the trapping equipment to catch a coyote, so the village might consider hiring a professional trapper, Manski said.

Pora said she would just like to see the coyotes out of the area.

She has returned to Chipilly Woods only once since Beaumont was attacked--and this time he was on a leash.

"We went back there on a bright, clear day when other people were around," Pora said. "But we walked along the edge, close to the road, and I had my cell phone in my hand."

Copyright © 2003, Chicago Tribune

**Foggy_Goggles** · 12-23-2003, 11:13 AM

I'm guessing that Northbrook has a ordinance prohibiting the discharge of firearms within town limits?

'yotes are a big problem everywhere. SOP is a 22 round to the head and stringing them up on your fence but I'm guessing that wouldn't fly in Chitown.

**CaddyDaddy77** · 12-23-2003, 11:21 AM

Originally posted by Foggy_Goggles
I'm guessing that Northbrook has a ordinance prohibiting the discharge of firearms within town limits?

'yotes are a big problem everywhere. SOP is a 22 round to the head and stringing them up on your fence but I'm guessing that wouldn't fly in Chitown.

2nd that, 22's are most effective for erradication. After losing a friends dog at his property, along with some fowl that were his kids, a 22 was the solution.

**Viva** · 12-23-2003, 11:34 AM

In the Santa Monica Mountains, where I grew up, coyote packs would lure male dogs out of the neighborhoods with one of their bitches and into the brush where the rest of the pack would pounce.

I never saw this happen, but I read of it at least a couple of times.

**Anxious Mo-Fo** · 12-23-2003, 12:23 PM

They caught a coyote near Navy Pier?? How is this possible? Did the coyote take the Metra train in from Indiana?

**Viva** · 12-23-2003, 12:33 PM

Originally posted by Anxious Mo-Fo
They caught a coyote near Navy Pier?? How is this possible? Did the coyote take the Metra train in from Indiana?

Hey, a couple of years ago a coyote hopped on board one of the Portland MAX lines (metro light rail) and snuggled up in one of the seats. It was front page news the next day, which goes to show what a happenin' town this is...

**Helicrackjnky** · 12-23-2003, 12:43 PM

Coyote that was caught near Navy pier was on the breakwater by the lighthouse!! only about a 1/4 mile offshore!!

**splat** · 12-23-2003, 12:43 PM

Three of my neighbors' dogs have been eaten by coyotes in the last month, including one that was devoured in a yard three doors away at 3am. My roomie said the squeals were rather horrific.

**PaSucks** · 12-23-2003, 03:00 PM

Wow, chitown gets coyotes, and Pittsburgh ends up with bears in north park. I think i would rather have the bears, all they ever do is climb trees and fall onto trampolines, which is pretty fuggin hilarious.

**truth** · 12-23-2003, 03:07 PM

Originally posted by Anxious Mo-Fo
They caught a coyote near Navy Pier?? How is this possible? Did the coyote take the Metra train in from Indiana?

More than likely it wandered down along the beach. It's pretty unobstructed all the way into Wisconsin.

**pollard** · 12-23-2003, 03:59 PM

My dogs always killing coyotes and dragging them home. I never find the carcasis until their good and ripe.

yeah 100

**Snow Dog** · 12-23-2003, 04:44 PM

Originally posted by Viva
In the Santa Monica Mountains, where I grew up, coyote packs would lure male dogs out of the neighborhoods with one of their bitches and into the brush where the rest of the pack would pounce.

I never saw this happen, but I read of it at least a couple of times.

It happened to friend of mine. A wolf bitch tried to lure his young (and still stupid) male golden into the woods. Since it was a hunting trip a 300 win mag ended her game.

I was in Vancouver around Oak and 20th (the middle of urban Vancouver) when a coyote crossed Oak street. This was around 7am during rush hour. There's so much park land that there's thousands in Vancouver. It keeps the feral cat population down.

Blurred Elevens · 12-23-2003, 05:02 PM

Useless fact:

The .22 caliber bullet has killed more people in wars etc, than any other bullet combined.

**Snow Dog** · 12-23-2003, 05:28 PM

Originally posted by Blurred Elevens
Useless fact:

The .22 caliber bullet has killed more people in wars etc, than any other bullet combined.

Useless and not true either. While the M16 uses a .223 round almost all other rifles in the 20th century use a .30 caliber of some description. Even the AK-47.

**Endlessseason** · 12-24-2003, 10:56 AM

Originally posted by truth
"We went back there on a bright, clear day when other people were around," Pora said. "But we walked along the edge, close to the road, and I had my cell phone in my hand."

May have worked for her, but somehow I'm thinkin cell phones won't catch on as coyote protection...