Community Corner

Park District Warns of Coyotes Near Buffalo Grove Park

Signs are being used to warn citizens of coyotes after a pair attacked a Buffalo Grove resident's dog Thursday morning.

Buffalo Grove resident Danette Hayes is looking for a new place to walk her dog after a pair of coyotes attacked her pet Thursday morning as they walked along the path in Mike Rylko Community Park.

“I’m so spooked. I just can’t believe how quickly it happened,” said Hayes, who detailed her experience on Buffalo Grove Patch.

Read her story: Coyotes Attack from Behind

Find out what's happening in Buffalo Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

It wasn’t her first encounter with coyotes, she said. She’s spotted the animals along the trail before, as well as near Green Lake Park and in her own backyard. After being cornered by three coyotes earlier this year, she said she didn’t return to the park for a month. She was walking her dog each time she saw the wild animals, she said.

Hayes said she alerted the village about the coyote sightings about six weeks ago, and was told that the land was under the park district’s jurisdiction. After Thursday’s incident, she contacted the Buffalo Grove Park District to see what could be done.

Find out what's happening in Buffalo Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Park District spokesman Mike Terson said five signs were placed around the park Thursday afternoon. They are on loan from the village, which previously used them to alert residents about coyotes near Buffalo Creek, he said. The signs advise people to stay on the trail and to keep their dogs on leashes.

“I don’t know that other than putting up signs that there’s anything we can do,” Terson said. “Being that this is the first incident of this nature in any Buffalo Grove parks, that we are aware of, we are going to do what we can to learn about what our options might be.”

"We would definitely caution people walking their dogs to take precautions in the area," he said. "Keep your dogs on a short leash."

Hayes said she was glad the signs were erected so quickly.

“It’s great that they went already and put the signs up,” Hayes said. “Really, the most we can do is warn people they are there.” 

But, she added, “I’m definitely not walking there anymore.”

Buffalo Grove isn't the only village that's seen coyotes. Over the summer, Northbrook residents reported multiple coyote attacks

Last summer, Palatine Township held a seminar to educate citizens about the growing coyote population. Dogs owners also reported their pets were attacked in that area.

Detailed information about coyotes in Lake County is posted on the Village of Deerfield's website. Buffalo Grove also acknowledges the increase in coyote sightings on its website.

"Coyotes are intelligent animals and are very difficult to trap. Therefore, it is hard for us to just trap and relocate them. Trapping requires a state license and is highly regulated. Also, the traps are dangerous, especially for children and pets," according to the Buffalo Grove site

Have you seen coyotes in Buffalo Grove? Tell us in the comment section below.

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