Comments on: Coyote ugly

By: DGLIFER

DGLIFER — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:51:23 +0000

Before everyone gets their “fur” flying, do we need to be reminded AGAIN that these animals have been driven from their homes and have no where else to go. For crying out loud people… be responsible.. don’t let you pets out unattended, pay attention (turn off the iPod and cell phone) when you are out walking and keep your eyes open when you go out at night. They are more afraid of you than you think! Once again, the NIMBY’s are out in full force. You all want the mansions and prestige of living in Downers Grove, but you want nothing to do with who/what was here before you! I’m so bloody glad I moved to another town!

By: KellyDGM

KellyDGM — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:52:10 +0000

When I lived at Oakwood and Warren they were by the tracks all the time. When I lived in Laguna Niguel CA, we lived side by side with coyotes for years and years. They never attacked people in the area (like the CA mountain lions or rattlesnakes do all the time) but they did pick off a cat or two in the area. I have had close encounters with them and they were very shy and ran away. Like any other wild or unknown domestic animal, if you don’t engage it, feed it or touch it you should be fine. Pet owners who allow thier cats and dogs to roam free are putting thier pets, people, and wildlife at risk.

By: Not Sure

Not Sure — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:17:14 +0000

If we start expelling the coyotes, I don’t want to hear anyone complaining about the booming population of rabbits, squirrels, or even skunks and raccoons which coyotes have been known to kill.

By: Maureen

Maureen — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:04:44 +0000

Meat, because as a parent that is your job…coyotes or not…

By: MIke

MIke — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:26:36 +0000

No doubt these coyotes are being attracted by food, as it is usually people feeding them purposefully that attracts them in close. Even a bird feeder in your back yard can start a food chain, starting with rats and mice. The coyotes are actually looking for rats, mice, woodchucks and rabbits. They are a farmers best friend. The greatest single deterrent to coyotes is human presence. So the solution is simple: don’t let your cats roam freely out of doors because many bad things can happen to them such as owls, domestic dog attacks, hit by cars, etc. Small dogs should be accompanied out of doors. Not just coyotes are dangers to little dogs. Domestic dogs cause 20-30 deaths per year and 1,000 injuries PER DAY. Why worry about coyotes? As far as children, worry about the HUMAN predators first. Keep an eye on your kids.

By: Meat

Meat — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 04:09:26 +0000

Maureen-

If there hasn’t been an attack on a human being in Illinois in 30+ years, why are you recommending I keep an eye on my children? Not reassuring. I keep an eye on the dogs when they’re outside, especially since we have an empty lot nearby (thank you housing collapse).

Cats? No love lost.

By: EJ

EJ — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 03:00:34 +0000

Now that’s the kind of comment that could get you banned from this blog for life, Dad.

By: DGDAD

DGDAD — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:49:30 +0000

can you blame them for eating the cats…..Gooood Eatn’…

By: Quin

Quin — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:47:08 +0000

I think Gov Quin should tax them! He is taxing the hell out of everyone else………….We need a Republican back in the Mansion.

By: John Schofield

John Schofield — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:08:32 +0000

By all means, identify and remove individual coyote troublemakers. But keep in mind that ecologies, native or urban, involve complex interactions. I wouldn’t be surprised for a reduction in the coyote population to result in an exponential increase in the goose and rabbit population. Skunks, even, not because coyotes eat skunks, but because coyotes eat other animals that skunks would otherwise eat. It gets complex.