Coyote Information from the Kane County Sheriff’s Office
December 30, 2009
Lt. Stutz reports that he’s received several coyote reports from Mill Creek recently. As I’ve said in other post over the last couple of years, don’t leave small pets unattended outdoors.
The following information is forwarded by Lt. Stutz and was obtained from the Kane County Animal Control Center and the DuPage Willowbrook Wildlife Center.
- As more and more farmland vanishes and human population concentrations continue to grows, the transformation of this landscape balance has had an impact on many wild species. In particular, red foxes and coyotes not only have survived; they have made some startling adjustments. Coyotes and red foxes seldom occur in the same neighborhood. The reasons for this are not clear, but differences in travel corridors may be a factor. Foxes are concentrating their activities within ¼ mile of railways, while coyotes show a preference for waterways.
- Coyotes A coyote looks similar to a small German shepherd dog. Coyotes weigh between 20 and 45 pounds, have a bushy tail with a black tip, are yellowish gray with a whitish throat and belly, their ears are prominent, and their tail is held below their back while running.
- 90% of a coyote’s diet is small mammals, but they will also eat birds, snakes, insects, fish, fruit and vegetables. Coyotes are opportunistic hunters, feeding primarily on what is most available: squirrels, voles, mice, rabbits, injured or sick deer. They rarely kill prey larger than themselves but will scavenge on a fresh carcass. Coyotes are capable of taking a small dog (less than 15 pounds) or a cat, but they rarely take supervised pets.
- Coyotes live in prairies, brushy areas, and wooded edges; however, not in heavily wooded areas. They prefer suburban areas with broken forests. Coyotes like to travel along trails/paths or ridges and waterways. They often deposit feces or scent mark with urine along the way. They are mostly active at night but may be seen during the day, especially in the summer when their young are more active. They sometimes hunt in family units but are more often alone or in male/female pairs.
- Their barks and yips usually increase in power and pitch and ending in a long, flat howl. Young have a higher pitch than adults do. Howls increase during mating season but decrease when they have young. Coyotes can also howl at sirens or whistles. Howls carry 2–3 miles. Young are born in April and May in dens found along drainage ditches, fence rows, under abandoned buildings. Young are on their own at 6-9 months.
Preventing Problems With Coyotes
Do not encourage coyotes by feeding them!
- Keep pet food and watering dishes inside, especially at night.
- Do not allow spillage to accumulate outside bird feeders.
- Keep grills and barbecues clean. Even the smallest food scraps may attract coyotes or foxes.
- Do not keep garbage cans outside if possible.
- Use welded wire to exclude animals from underneath decks.
- Keep cats indoors.
- Keep small dogs and cats on leashes and stay with your pets while outside, especially during the evening and early morning.
- Coyotes are creatures of habit. If you encounter a coyote the same place and same time while walking your pet, you may want to change your path or time of your walk.
- Coyotes typically prefer to be as far away from man as possible because man is a predator. However, loss of habit from man’s constant expansion has left them little choice as to where they call home. If a coyote or fox den is in your backyard or you see one within Mill Creek, call the Kane County Animal Control Center for assistance. DO NOT stick your hand or head into the den.
Public Health Concerns
- Coyotes are not considered to be a significant source of infectious diseases that can be transmitted to humans. They may be carriers of rabies. IF you should get bitten by a coyote, seek help or call 911. Then also call the Kane County Animal Control Center at 630-232-3555 to report the incident.
What Not To Do
- Please remember that it is illegal to keep wild animals even for a very short time and that they have specialized nutritional, housing, and handling needs that you are unlikely to be able to provide. Inexperienced individuals who attempt to raise/treat them inevitably produce an unhealthy, tame animal that cannot survive in its natural habitat
- Trapping and removing is illegal without the proper permits and is not always the solution to the problem. Removing the animal creates an open space for another animal. Trapped adults may be leaving young behind to die of starvation in an inaccessible area. Focus on removing the attraction, not the animal
- Never move young from the den.
- Do not use poisons. They are inhumane and may be illegal. They can result in secondary poisoning of raptors, wild scavengers and neighborhood pets.
When to Contact Kane County Animal Control
- If you come across a wild animal and are concerned, leave it alone. Call the Kane County Animal Control Center at 630-232-3555. Remember that young wild animals are not like human babies. Their parents do not constantly watch them, and they spend large amounts of time alone or with brothers and sisters.
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