No Quick Fix to Coyote Pack Roaming Algonquin

Coyotes are here and it’s best to learn to live with them is the message an Illinois Department of Natural Resources officer brought to Algonquin this week.

Conservation Officer Richard Riedel estimates Algonquin has a pack of 8 to 12 coyotes roaming areas along Route 31, Huntington Drive, Harnish Drive and Hansen Road.

“They are here,” Riedel said.

Coyotes have been here for a while, he said. Sightings may be increasing a little bit because the coyote’s habitat has been shrinking due to continued urban development, he said.

Speculation is the Western Bypass construction has forced coyotes out in the neighborhoods where residents report hearing a lot of howling.

Riedel provided some facts and safety tips to the Algonquin village board Tuesday night. Mayor John Schmitt has been fielding calls from residents about coyote sightings.

“Are they a life safety concern for the municipalities or is it something that is more of a nuisance and a fear than a real concern?” Schmitt said.

The coyotes don’t pose a life safety concern, Riedel said.

“Would they attack someone’s dog? Absolutely. Would they attack a someone? I would be extremely shocked if that happened,” Riedel said.

Coyotes don’t want to deal with people, he said.

If an emergency situation occurs, residents can call Algonquin police, Riedel said. Police officers are authorized to shoot coyotes, he said. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources can issue a nuisance animal permit to allow coyote trapping, but the question arises of who will pay the trapper, he said.

Homeowners often expect the village to pay for the trapping, he said. Even if traps are laid out, it won’t necessarily solve the problem so it’s not the best approach, nor is allowing hunting, Riedel said.

“To go out and eradicate every coyote in this area is not possible,” the conservation officer said. “I don’t think it’s practical. We need to learn to live with coyotes. We need to learn how to keep them out of our yards.”

Keeping coyotes away

What does help is getting residents to take away food, like birdseed, which attracts rodent that in turn attract coyotes, he said. Securing garbage is another way to keep coyotes at bay.

Residents walking dogs or taking a jog should be aware of their surroundings and Riedel recommends carrying a can of mace to spray in the direction of the coyote. It will not hurt the coyote but the mace will scare it away, he said.

A carrying stick or whistle will work to ward off a coyote as will acting aggressively, he said.

Coyotes in Algonquin

 Algonquin Trustee Debby Sosine lives in an area where there have always been coyotes roaming around. Coyotes walk up and down the court she lives in. Neighbors just keep an eye out on their small dogs.

The coyotes sometimes lay around in the driveway, sunning themselves, she said. The animals are around for a few months then disappear for six months or so, she said.

Sosine has relatives who live in West Virginia where it’s common to see black bears in neighborhoods going through garbage cans for food.

“I can handle a coyote,” she said.