I am just sick reading about the attack on dogs and the death of the puppy. As a Wheaton resident, who lives in a neighborhood where we see coyotes running down our street, I am not interested in letting them go and hoping they dont want to come back. Next time that will be a child being attacked. We can not let this continue in our community.
Is there any organization in Wheaton that are trying to rid of these unwelcome animals.
If so I would like to know who they are, I think they would enjoy renewed interest in their efforts after this senseless invasion of private property.

How about we make eye contact through some iron sights.
I have a great 9mm noise maker.
I could even throw a few lead pellets the coyote's way.

With all the hunters in this town I don't see why we can't turn this into an organized hunting event. We could even teach field dressing and crafts with the hides... Oh I'm sorry, maybe we should try re-rehabilitating these natural predators.

A comment was deleted because it violated our terms of use.

Violence isn't the answer. Killing an animal because it is on "your" property is ridiculous. It's not like coyotes ever wanted human being on their property either. And they were historically here first. I live in Wheaton. Literally down the street to where this occurred and am completely against killing them. Trapping and RELEASING them in a TIMELY matter so they do not dehydrate, in a larger forest preserve, yes that sounds like a solution that could work. I will fight tooth and nail if someone tries to pass an ordinance to kill, and I certainly know many others who will too.

I am a expert coyote hunter, for the past 20 years. I can provide a service to Wheaton. My name is Shawn Starry. My phone number is 815-238-3005. I can do a public speaking form to inform residents of facts as well as track and hunt them.

The City's policy on the management of the coyote invasion in Wheaton is a joke. Will it take a coyote attack on a child before this issue is finally taken seriously?? Well it won't be MY CHILD!! Shawn, I will be in touch.

Attacks on human beings -children-do occur. Attacks on dogs while their owners are present do occur. It's just a matter of time before it happens in Wheaton if we let the coyote population grow. Reasonable culling of these wild animals is the ONLY answer.

As I too am very sorry for this families loss: Wheaton has gone above and beyond to notify and educate all pet owners to keep their pets on a leash and NOT to let them out at night without supervision on a leash. A very sad accident but I too can't blame Wheaton or the coyotes. Does anyone have proof they have ever attacked a human? Our dog has been sprayed by skunks numerous times. Should we go on a witch hunt for skunks?

Google "coyote attacks on humans". Yes, they occur.

if i remember correctly the only reason you can not kill them is that they are inside town limits.

copied from the il dnr
Coyotes are harvested during regulated hunting and trapping seasons. An average of 7,000 coyotes is harvested each year in Illinois. About 75 percent of these are taken by hunters; 25 percent by trappers. The trapping season is restricted to the fall and winter months, while the hunting season is open year-round. A liberal hunting season allows landowners to remove problem animals without having to obtain a special permit. Biologists monitor the population to ensure that hunting and trapping do not negatively impact the population.

Coyotes are becoming a problem all over -- period. Yes, they are native to the area and to some extent we do have to adapt to them. But there's a difference between reasonable tolerance and turning a blind eye to reality. Coyotes are predators large enough to take down an adult (Google this name: Taylor Josephine Stephanie Luciow); they have been known on more than one occasion to attack small children. If they lose their fear of humans enough to consistently attack pets, what's to stop them from eventually attacking people?

What often prevents communities from establishing sensible policies towards wildlife is public sentiment -- i.e., people don't want to believe there is a problem. A book worth reading on this topic is "The Beast in the Garden" by David Baron.

Remember that Coyotes do not rational. They are animals. We need to understand that they are a cunning hunter, probably better than most species. Take away their habitat and their chances will reduce the number of coyote comming in town. But there are strays always looking for habitat and food within town, because of tolerance towards them. Like I mentioned before, I am willing to offer my services to safeguard your homes and families with knowledge and track them. I also am willing to hunt them on the outer part of the city limits. My number is 815-238-3005.

"Coyotes do not rational (sic)", but "they are a cunning hunter". Hmmm
A house cat is a better hunter than a coyote (and probably Mr. Starry), and a house cat is a better writer than a coyote (and probably Mr. Starry). "Take away their habitat and their chances will reduce the number of coyote comming (sic) in town" - so this suggests we pave everything over and coyotes will go away? Might want to check the county's position on "hunting" outside of city limits. Do you also go door to door and blacktop driveways in the summer? Now that is something people can use.

Attacks on Dogs:

Almost 30 different breeds of dog were reported to have been attacked by coyotes. Smaller breed dogs were attacked more often than medium and large sized dogs, with 20 small breeds, 3 medium breeds, and 6 large breeds attacked.

Dogs were attacked while outside in their backyard (both alone and in the presence of their owner) and also while being walked by their owner in a park.
Fences can help to keep coyotes out of your yard, but coyotes have been known to jump over fences. (The best fences for keeping out coyotes are at least six feet tall and have a roll bar on top.)

Ignorance is everyone's greatest threat. Coyotes need a habitat. Downed trees, brushes laying around, anything that provides a den within town or at the edge of town, they will use these. Coyotes are not real selective, if they see food they will hunt this food with great stealth, and speed. They are most likely to "Rove around town ", during dusk to dawn. They will hunker down and sleep during the day in a nearby den. They only require about two hours of sleep. As I said before, I am an expert in my feild when it comes to hunting them for past twenty years. You can make a personal choice and learn more about them online and take action with setting a privacy fence around your home approximately 6-8 feet in height. Install a motion detector light will also Ward them off, since they are nocturnal animals. My reason and motivation for hunting and tracking them is thus- my own children were attacked by two coyotes while camping in a tent in the back yard. So in regards earlier statements I am also an published author. Google this "The Train of Life", by Shawn P. Starry at WWW.PublishAmerica.com or WWW.Amazon. com. The city officials need to make a concerned effort to take a coyote threat serious, because ignorance is not bliss.

I'm very sorry for your puppies' loss regardless how it happened ....I'm sorry :(((

The forests are disrupted construction and like the advise given above ....west Nile virus is a problem so tough guys please don't start blowing up Mosquitos too .....

The city is doing the what they can and I'd sure not have kids camping in tents if this were a problem....if ignorance can be a bliss . Ya know better do better get umbrella insurance add human nature is much more about nature . Humanity may include not taking risks you can not afford to lose when knowing better ...just try and do better and even then the gator dude was killed by a sting ray ...it's part of life and it is a very sad and unfortunate part that best to stop the blame game and take precautions .

Even when they fail ...show a bit compassion for others than making it about us !

I am so sorry for the owner and pet.
With the extensive urban sprawl, new subdivisions, new malls, new industrial parks the wild animals have nowhere to go.
All this new building is done just to "create more jobs" is insane.
Rebuild and reuse isnt that more "green"?

Any persons living outside city limit needing my services you can contact me on Facebook -Author Shawn Starry. Inbox me there. Also residents needing assistance with proofing property can inbox me as well. God bless as you walk through this day with Jesus.

Well, thank goodness that only 2 out of 17 people who contributed to this comment block think like you, Annette. That is, you and Cindy. The other guy, Shawn..., well, he appears to be just wanting to feed a habit he has by shooting things..., all while hoping to make some money at it. The coyote problem is NOT the coyote. The real problem is sheer ignorance on whatever attempts can be made towards harmony. Blunderoulsly coming up with a means of killing off animals, other wise know as "culling" is simply not acceptable. Proper education and resolving towards compromise would be a good start, especially for those like Annette and Cindy.

Cull? No. Eradicate every coyote in the the suburbs with extreme prejudice. Coyotes are running wild in the area. You do not want to see the rage I'll fly into if my dog is attacked. Every coyote east of DeKalb must be killed on sight. They do not belong around our homes. Bounties must be offered and professional hunters hired.
Action NOW.

Hmmmm...I don't see where to leave a reply instead of a new comment, so this will have to do.
I'm all for nature--in place. For carnivores and other dangerous animals, that's OUTSIDE the suburbs. That area's shrinking? Too bad. We're humans, and beasts have to yield.
I love snakes, too, and don't want to see them killed unnecessarily, but if a venomous snake is in the suburbs or otherwise around people's homes, WHACK IT. Same goes for coyotes. I'm all for them wandering the countryside, but the contiguous suburbs are no place for them.
My dog is frickin' afraid to step outside now. Coyotes have marked the back yard and she can smell it. She stands at the back door and sniffs the air instead of going out. You tree huggers can kiss my @$$. The coyotes got to go!

"Tree hugger?" That's so passe. Lloyd, I think you can do better than that. Next you'll be calling me a "commie."

As for your comments... We can't just go around WHACKING things that we find inconvenient to deal with or we plain just don't like. It's the idea that we can prioritize the value of various life forms that gets us to bad places in history, such as practically obliterating the bison population simply because we could, because it amused us to do so. Such a slippery slope to decide that some life is more valuable than others. At the most extreme, African slavery, where if half the cargo of slaves dies in-route to America, it's not a big deal because they were considered less than human. Or the holocaust, or the inquisitions, or the Trail of Tears. Life is sacred and coyotes are much more blameless for their actions than humans can ever hope to be. I don't want to see coyotes culled/killed any more than I want to see another dog killed. So where does that leave us?

I think Lloyd's dog has more sense about coyotes than, well, Lloyd does.

Still waiting on that name "Alan"....

Annette, What difference does it make what Alans last name is? Are you planning on finding him and stalking, or what? I for one attended all of the council meetings in favor of the coyotes a couple years back and am willing to do what I can to save them. I am not worried about you ar anybody else knowing my last name. I am entitled to my opinions as well as Alan and even you! Yes, you, Annette! I will continue to support saving the coyotes as we have taken over their land. I do not want to see innocent dogs killed, as I am a lover of animals and have three dogs myself. But their is something to be said for people getting educated about the coyote and being a responsible pet owner. Some of these comments are simply ridiculous! I can't even imagine living in a world without Gods creatures. And that includes the coyotes!

My point, Eve, is don't hide. If you feel that strongly about something and you think your position is sound, then speak your peace and sign your name. Anybody can hide behind anonymity and then say or do whatever they want with no accountability. Though we may be on opposite sides of this issue, I have a lot of respect for the people who put their name behind their words.

Annette, in a world full of gun-slinging Wheatonites, I think I can understand Alan's feelings about not having his full name out there. 99% of people who post comments on the web don't use their full name and for good reason. Whatever the case, Alan not identifying himself doesn't make his viewpoint invalid anymore than you identifying yourself doesn't make you right.

Thank you, Eve, for providing another voice of reason to this discussion. Sadly, your thoughts will fall on deaf ears with most of this crowd.

Annette, many remember you as a lime-light seeking out-of-work attorney during the last go-round about the coyotes. Aren't your kids a little old for you to be worried about their safety? Loosen the apron-strings a little . . . jus' sayin'.

You're a classy guy, aren't you "Charles". But at least you signed your name.

I live on Cromwell, have two dogs and admit that every coyote that comes in my yard will leave town with the Friday morning trash pickup. Do I need to put a sticker on the coyote?

Sean, I'm not sure by any means, but it may be illegal to discard of a dead animal by putting it in the trash to be handled by under-paid garbage men. This probably doesn't bother you much, though, as you have the holier-than-thou manner of someone who feels they can do anything they want because they "live on Cromwell." We certainly have a lot of egomaniacs in Wheaton and the attitude is most disturbing.

Lloyd, when you run over that coyote I hope you feel better about yourself. Take a good look at it and congratulate yourself at being so much superior to it that you could rationalize killing it without necessity, while it only has it's innate instinct for survival to aid it and avoiding a car isn't in it's instinctual programming. Personally, I never saw anything that looked nicer dead than alive, but maybe that's just my experience. I don't understand it, or the way you feel, as you stated how important your dog is--like a family member--and I'd think that translates to understanding that all creatures are beautiful in their own way and our willingness to take life unnecessarily is a sad commentary. This isn't our world, it's either all of nature's world, or it's our creator's world, and in either case, you obviously don't appreciate the significance of that or the value of life. I'm sure you'll have a clever comeback about the Bible saying that God gave the world to man to do whatever he wants; to my mind that doesn't mean "kill anything you want and screw the place up." (And that attitude certainly hasn't served women well, who also fall prey to the "I'm man and I can do what I want with anything that isn't man.) Nonetheless, I'm done with the commentating; you can have the show to yourself. In my mind, you're a psychopath, and even so, I wouldn't tell you to go to hell--I wouldn't be so pretentious. I suspect that you're already in a hell of your own devise.

Sean, my comments are the result of examining your statements: you preamble your feeling with "I live on Cromwell," then lapse into cavalier and disturbingly flippant remarks about how you will kill any coyotes and put them in your trash, without much regard to possibly breaking various laws. Considering your reaction, I think that I must have hit a nerve. People are usually most indignant when someone exposes something about themselves that they would rather had kept hidden. Further, I never said that everyone in the Cromwell area is of your mindset; I know a number of people in that area who are quite agreeable in every way and I respect them immensely. I just find your attitude about the subject childish, disturbing and ignorant. For instance, what if someone's pet husky runs through your yard and meets an end in whatever manner you've devised? I suppose you'll just quietly put him/her in the trash, as well? Nice...

coyote hunting season starts 1/2hour before sunrise Nov 10.

I hope the coyotes have fun killing the pets of all of the liberal tree hugging idiots around. BTW, when they run out of food, their diets will change to small kids! Make a choice, kids or the coyotes. Law or not, what choice do you make, Kids or Coyotes?

Alan,

I have been studying the effects of coyotes on deer herds for 10+ years. If you care to read a very good study, google coyote research Auburn University or University of Georgia. We studied the fawn drop survival rate for deer with no trapping/hunting of coyotes and with a heavy reduction of coyotes. When the study was started we had a fawn survival rate of 16%, meaning that 16% of all fawns born lived to be six months old at least. After removal of around 50 coyotes in a 4000 acre block, the survival rate of fawns increased to 86%. The coyotes are in the neighborhoods because natural food is low. This called the "point of no return".
This means that the natural food source is not growing each year due to over predation.

Coyotes are very intelligent opportunistic predators and should be taken very seriously by residents. The diseases carried by coyotes are another side effect of "living with coyotes".

Alan...continued...It should also be noted that coyotes breed for life and drop the number of pups that their environment can sustain. This means that if you give a pair of coyotes a food rich environment, the offspring rate will be very high.
I challenge you to run a test to see what your coyote population is. Go by a few trail cameras and set them on some hamburger meet in a patch of woods and see what comes by to eat it! You might be surprised to find that you have just a few coyotes!

Good luck Alan, I hope that you take this problem seriously! BTW....one of the most delicious foods for coyotes is bobcat and house cats will be the first animals to quietly disappear in a neighborhood. My cat has been mauled twice!

another note....coyotes have fun killing. This is what they do!

just remember something...man are animals and predators just like the coyote. And yes, I have seen coyotes kill for fun, a game to them. Spend some time outdoors, do your homework Alan. You said, "It is the basis of survival and the foundation to support a species as it continues to evolve (dare I bring in 'evolution' here...)." You are not evolving! The question I have for you is are you going to evolve or are you going to let coyotes control your habits? Have you seen the videos of killer whales playing catch with seals? They are having fun! Little dogs and cats are fun to coyotes!

Keep up the great posts, Alan! I'm glad to see that there are sensible voices in Wheaton still!

That reminds me... Where's my old sock-puppet friend, Unheard?
Unheard, Unheard, are you coming out to play?

Hi Vincent-I am here to play now! I really see little reason to post as you are doing just fine, as always! Why is it so hard for some of these individuals to understand a very basic concept-when killed, animals, including coyotes, simply procreate.

Alan, I appreciate your common sense and intelligent approach. Thank you!

Hi, Unheard! I thought I heard the wraith of angels approaching, and here you are!

Where are all the coyote-hating gun-toters, though, I wonder? They must be out looking for the virtually unseen coyotes. You know, the ones you only can see on the television during inflammatory newscasts.

I agree Vincent, how one-sided was that? They spent less than a minute on the woman from the aspca-I am pretty sure it was the aspca-she certainly wasn't the focus, bet they wanted to skip her part all together. A couple of minutes with Mayor Gresk who, thank goodness has a sensible living with coyotes approach and then, to my utter shock, they interviewed Erickson, yes Erickson of all people-the ghost himself. They end this with whats-his-name in the newsroom holding some type of baton!!! Needless to say, a more balanced approach is a necessity and only fair!!!

http://www.gon.com/article.php?id=3045&cid=93

http://www.americanhunter.org/articles/how-coyotes-affect-deer-herds/

http://athenaeum.libs.uga.edu/bitstream/handle/10724/10020/schrecengost_joshua_d_200708_ms.pdf?sequence=1

Alan,

Easy to find case studies on the internet.

I am not complaining or anything else so quit bitching. I am simply trying to show some of the effects of coyotes. It is your CHOICE, you dip shit of a person, to as you say, "let nature balance the animal population...." Rats carried the black plague, what a balance that was! You can ignore the problem, or face the problem, but that is your choice. Obviously, you are not a very well educated person and have trouble with simple reasoning. When you see a coyote, squat down and try to be nice to it. They are all Gods creatures! Don' forget, you are an animal and part of the population!

john livingston, I think Vincent touched a nerve. I sense you are very angry at him/her for posting the truth! I think it's clear which one of you is well educated and it certainly isn't you!

Thanks for the support, Unheard! Thanks, too, for the great posts! There are still rational people in Wheaton after all!

Yeah..., there's somethin' about John Livingston that might go beyond just coyotes. Might not even have anything to do with coyotes. I mean, there is no mention of a John Livingston in any of the links, including the "Auburn study" in the link he provided, which he appeared to claim he was part of the study with ten years under his belt. And, as far as studying herds of deer and the effects of coyote predation any where ...., nada for John Livingston! By the way, the only write up of any John Livingston associated with Auburn is here :
http://www.ag.auburn.edu/alumni/hall-of-honor/documents/LivingstonJH.pdf
and that is a story of a wealthy guy in the chicken industry.... Doubt that's you John.
So, really, John Livingston, what is your interest in coyotes in Wheaton? I've seen more deer in Wheaton than coyotes. I've actually taken pictures of wild turkeys while driving on Geneva Rd. in Wheaton/Glen Ellyn. A month later I witnessed a jaguar (car) two car lengths ahead of me within a block on the same road hit a six point deer. Interesting... all the links you provided mostly deal with hunting the same animals that coyotes allegedly were hunting. Maybe you're just a frustrated hunter... with nothing around here to shoot.

I think coyote attacks make life in Wheaton more interesting. Its a boring place to live so a few dog attacks doesn't scare me. Tell your kids about predator and prey and how it works, little dogs are need to stay on your owners lap or inside your luxury suv. I have 2 dogs 55-65 lbs I think both can defend themselves just fine.

Jim, What kind of dog's do you have? We have had boxers and huskies-no luxury suv or suv at all, either. We just use common sense and don't expect the city to trap, hunt, kill etc. It's working just fine so I think we will all be o.k.

Clearly chrisrus this is simply due to the fact that boxers are one of the most common household dog breeds.

chrisrus, I should add that as I was saying to Jim, not you, I don't think he or I have anything to worry about. The breed isn't the issue, it's people not minding their pets that's the issue. This should be apparent by now. Lets stay on topic. My post was simply a friendly one to Jim, and not to you. If you would like to share info. about your dog for us, feel free!

Jim never said anything about having a boxer, only that he has "2 dogs 55 to 65 lbs." This is why we can't take your posts very seriously. Please do your homework.

http://pinkdogink.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/lucy-and-lizzie.jpg

http://www.greatdogsite.com/breeds/details/Vizsla/

Vincent, next you are going to tell me they were all attacking a boxer, right? Hmm. Take out the b and x and you have "sober."

At first, puppies spend the large majority of their time sleeping and the rest feeding. They instinctively pile together into a heap, and become distressed if separated from physical contact with their littermates, by even a short distance. Thanks.
Regards,
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