Letter: It's Up to Humans to Solve Coyote Problem

Wheaton Patch accepts and publishes letters to the editor emailed to Local Editor Charlotte Eriksen at Charlotte@patch.com, or sent as a message through the Wheaton Patch Facebook page. Please note in subject lines the message is a Letter to the Editor.

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Dear Charlotte,
 
I am in total agreement with every point made in Kathy O'Brien's letter.
 
Our home backs up to  a retention area, and behind that is the Arboraetum.
We fully understand that in a location such as this we can expect to experience
a little more wildlife than in your typical Wheaton neighborhood. We are used to the raccoons, skunks, squirrels, we look forward to seeing deer in the Winter, and we have for years heard the far away howls of coyotes late in the evening.
 
However, the situation has gone from marvelling at the sounds of them in their
natural habitat, to being afraid to let the dog out in the yard, and never having the freedom to enjoy walking him any time after dark.  It is not unusual now to see a coyote strolling fearlessly and casually between the houses in our neighborhood, even in the early evening.
 
While we understand that it is we humans that have created this situation and that they are looking for food because we have pushed them out of their natural areas, it is up to us humans to find a solution to this problem (warning residents effectively in the meantime), before any more of us lose beloved pets or something even worse happens. Perhaps it's time to bring in some outside help and expertise.
 
Barb Keltner

Wheaton