West Chicago Police Respond to Concerns Over Coyote Sightings

West Chicago, Illinois: November 15, 2007 – Coyote sightings in West Chicago have caused concern among some members of the community prompting the City of West Chicago Police Department to gather and disseminate information intended to educate the public.

	Visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website, www.dnr.state.il.us, for more information on coyote distribution and abundance, habitat, habits, foods, reproduction and conservation.

According to Chief Donald Goncher, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is a good place to start. Information contained on their website, http://www.dnr.state.il.us/, may help allay panic should someone see a coyote in their neighborhood. The animal, resembling a small German shepherd dog, carries its tail below the level of its back, rather than curved upward. Its upper body is typically light gray to dull yellow, but can vary from mostly black to nearly all gray or white. A more specific description may be found on the website. 

According to the IDNR, coyotes are common throughout Illinois where they are abundant in areas with a mixture of farmland, woodland and grassland, however, they are also known to inhabit suburban and even urban areas. While they are valuable members of the wildlife community, caution should be exercised in a suburban setting with regard to pets such as domestic cats and small dogs. Reported attacks on humans appear to be rare. 

Because coyotes are predators and will be attracted to areas that encourage small animals and birds, one way to deter them from entering residential backyards is to keep the ground clear of pet food or wild animal feed. For further information, contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources at (217) 782-6302 or http://www.dnr.state.il.us/ using the search word coyote. 

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