My dog Dakota and I were walking along the trails behind the BG Fitness Center and the Park District golf dome today when we were attacked from behind by two coyotes. Dakota is not a small dog, she's part siberian husky/whippet mix and weighs 38 pounds.
We walk these trails at least 3 times a week and we've had coyote sitings for well over a year along this same trail. Just six weeks ago I notified the village by email that Dakota and I were alerted to sounds of what seemed like little dogs barking and then the howls. I knew instantly it was coyotes and I wrote the village asking them to at least put up a sign that there was a coyote den so people would be alerted. I received a reply back that the village didn't own the land, the park district does and they'd forward the email onto them.
Following the advice of all the warnings on what to do when confronted with coyotes, I've either yelled at the top of my lungs if nowhere to run, I carry a big stick or usually I turn around and avoid their area. Today as we were on the path I saw the two coyotes 30 feet in front of me and turned around. I didn't want Dakota to notice so I'm quick about it. I decide to do the lower half of the park area and making my second loop near the bike park out of nowhere Dakota yanks me backward, I fall to the ground and I see the coyotes. I scream, one runs away but Dakota has already attacked the other coyote. Because the yank was so hard the retractable leash flew out of my hand and I believe it hit the coyote in the head causing it to run away. All the while I'm screaming. Luckily Dakota was wearing a harness because it appears the coyote bit through the harness and the metal clip prevented Dakota's skin from being ripped open. Dakota had a mouth full of hair from the coyote but appears to be okay.
After following up with the vet and getting Dakota settled, I went to the park district to let them know what happened. I did this because according to the email reply I received weeks ago, the village couldn't help me. Not that a sign is going to do anything but at least people who aren't familiar with the area will be warned, there are a ton of kids on these paths daily! Since informing the park district, I've spoken with a village representative and the police department. I joked with the police dept because not sure what they can do about it. But I filed a report. What's truly scary is the coyotes had to track us to come up from behind. That's aggressive behavior and thats what is so alarming. I'm told that the coyote dens can't be removed because they're protected. I'm not trying to place blame on anyone - it's no ones fault. My concern is that just doing our own due diliegence isn't working. The coyotes are aggressive enough they wanted my dog who was within six feet of me and on a leash.
The village highlights our beautiful trails on their website as an ammenity to our community. If it's not the villages responsibility to keep us safe, the park district has no jurisidiction over a coyote den and the police can only take a report - who is responsible for protecting the citizens against what is becoming a real concern? What if it's a child walking their dog next time or kids just hanging out on the trails? Why are the coyote dens protected but the citizens aren't?
I am NOT saying it wasn't something to be concerned about, nor that you shouldn't be able to walk anywhere without concern. I just would not have put myself and my dog into an area you already knew was a likely problem. The signs are good to alert people, but it won't stop any contact unless the coyotes can read them too.
Glad you are ok and I'm glad Dakota protected herself and you. Anyone else in that situation would have done the same and you would all be lying if you say differently. Call me angry but its unbelieveable people would even dare say it's her fault or that Dakota was the aggressor! Of course she was... 2 coyotes wanted to attack her.. Not sneak up for a quick play date! Good grief.
I run in a forest preserve filled with coyotes, I know the dangers, if I get attacked its on me, but it doesn't mean i'm going to keep quiet and not warn people!
What can be done to prevent any unwanted contact and protect pets and coyotes? "By keeping dogs on a leash and staying on designated trails, contact with coyotes can generally be avoided. Always supervise your dog closely in areas where coyotes are present, even your backyard. Coyotes are not afraid of your dog, but they are afraid of you. If a coyote approaches your dog, scare away the coyote. If there are food sources around your house or neighboring houses (e.g. bird feed, untidy garbage cans, food left out for pets), a coyote will take advantage of it when people are not around. These types of food sources are unnatural and will teach the coyote that if it risks coming close to humans it will be rewarded with food. It is very important to keep the area around your house free of these food sources." -- Yup.. here is yet more proof that the bird feeders should be regulated within the Buffalo Grove Areas.
http://www.urbancoyoteresearch.com/Management.htm Illinois state recommendations: Furbearers include raccoons, opossums, skunks, beavers, muskrats, coyotes, red foxes, gray foxes, mink, river otters, badgers, weasels, and bobcats. In urban or suburban areas, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) recommends hiring a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) to remove furbearers that are damaging property or causing risks to human health or safety. Landowners and tenants who want to remove furbearers themselves should contact an IDNR District Wildlife Biologist to see if they qualify for a Nuisance Animal Removal Permit. Link to NWCO resources: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/professionals.cfm#nwco Buffalo Grove Recommendations: http://www.vbg.org/index.aspx?NID=237 Dicks sporting goods sells "Mace Bear Pepper Spray" which has a 35 ft range. Walmart also sells Pepper Spray. Both resellers offer varieties that offer less concentrated irritants and spray range and are cheaper.
And, yes, Dakota did her job and did it well--she chased off animals that were going to attack her and her owner. The moral of this story is--there can be and are coyotes anywhere in Buffalo Grove, so it doesn't matter where you walk your dog, you must be cautious.
A few years ago, a wolf was seen walking down Ridgefield Lane near Checker Drive.
We have lived in BG for 27 years and have been seeing coyotes for years. If you walk at night, take a flashlight and look for them. You will see them. They are watching you. Even in the residential neighborhoods. The problem is that they are getting used to seeing people and thats where the aggressiveness comes into the picture. There are millions of acres away from towns that these animals can live and raise litters. I'm not saying we should exterminate them but we shouldn't have to tolerate their aggressiveness right in our own backyards. Wait until a small child gets attacked. It could happen! I grew up in farming country and when the coyote population became a problem, such as killing sheep, chickens and even small calves, we went on hunts and thinned out the population. The problems lessened until the coyote population restored itself, which it always did.
http://buffalogrove.patch.com/articles/where-have-you-spotted-coyotes-in-buffalo-grove
these are not dogs, they are savage predators that would gladly kill YOU if they were big enough. A small pistol would be nice if you ever get conceal carry in Illinois.