Spotted: Coyote Takes Sunday Stroll in Oak Lawn

An Oak Lawn Patch Facebook fan spotted a coyote taking a brisk stroll in an Oak Lawn residential neighborhood Sunday morning. 

The coyote was spotted around 10:45 a.m. on Sunday, April 28 at 102nd Street and 52nd Avenue by Brian Pletsch who was able to snap a few quick pics. A large coyote was spotted back in February on 93rd Street. 

With several confirmed sightings in the neighborhood, it is probably a wise move to keep an eye on your small dogs when they are outside. 

Here are some coyote facts and myths from the Cook County Urban Coyote Research Project to help us cohabitate peacefully with these Ghosts of the Suburbs.

• Keep your pooch on a leash when walking in the forest preserves or other area frequented by coyotes. You may want to carry a big stick or mace to fend off an attack. Making a lot of noise scares them off too.
• You may also want to re-think letting your poodle tinkle unattended in your fenced yard. Coyotes have been known to jump over them. The best fences for keeping coyotes out are at least six feet tall and have a roll bar on top.
• Make sure no one in the neighborhood is attracting coyotes by leaving pet food outdoors and eliminate wildlife feeding. Food left outside may attract coyotes, which may then attack your cat or dog.
• You also don’t want to feed coyotes, either intentionally or accidentally. Coyotes that are fed in residential neighborhoods can lose their fear of people.
• 142 coyote attacks on humans have been reported in 14 United States, and two cases of coyotes killing humans (United States and Canada) in modern history. There are no documented cases of coyotes attacking humans in Illinois or the Chicago area.
• If you encounter a coyote don’t run. Be an alpha dog. Yell, wave your arms, throw something at it (your big walking stick) and howl if you wish. The coyote will leave you and/or your dog alone. I’ve done this. It works.
• If you see a coyote during the daytime it may have become habituated to humans (and more be more likely to attack). Exercise caution when encountering a coyote or any wild animal. It’s not a big doggie.

Source: Cook County Urban Coyote Research Project

The Cook County Urban Coyote Research Project is a great read and has a lot of information about urban coyotes. We also recommend the Forest Preserve District of Cook County’s “Coyote FAQ” page.

If you run into what you think might be considered a "nuisance" coyote, don't hesitate to call Cook County Animal Control at 708-974-6046. (Let us know how that works out for you.)

Have you spotted coyotes in the Oak Lawn area? Tell us where in the comments.