$6,000 Reward Offered for Coyote Pup Killers

A $6,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for brutally beating and drowning six coyote pups, and severely injuring a seventh pup, at a Barrington Forest Preserve last month. The attack shattered the leg of the surviving coyote pup. That pup is recovering at Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Barrington where he "is growing stronger and bigger every day."

On May 11, a litter of six coyote pups was found by a fisherman drowned in a burlap bag near Penny Road Pond at the Spring Creek Valley Forest Preserve, according to the Lake County News-Sun.

"The police officer was called after a fisherman noticed a burlap bag in the water, and when he pulled it ashore, he found seven coyote puppies inside and called police," Cook County Forest Preserves Communications Director Lambrini Lukidis told the newspaper. "The bag had been floating, and we have no way of knowing how long it was in the water."

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The surviving pup, who is believed to be about six weeks old now, has underwent surgeries to fix his leg. The pup was about 2.5 weeks old at the time of the attack.

Last week, the Humane Society of the United States and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible harming the litter of coyote pups. In addition, an anonymous donor of Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation offered a $1,000 reward in this case, bringing the total reward to $6,000, according to a news release.

“Anyone who could so callously maim and kill defenseless coyote pups and then toss them away like trash is a danger not only to animals but to the community at large,” said Marc Ayers, the Illinois state director for the Humane Society of the United States. “We are hopeful that this reward will bring forward anyone with information about this heinous crime.”

In a news release from the humane society, officials said it is important to get the attention of law enforcement, prosecutors and residents in cases involving allegations of cruelty to animals and is an essential step in protecting the community.

"The connection between animal cruelty and human violence is well documented," according to the news release. "Studies show a correlation between animal cruelty and all manner of other crimes, from narcotics and firearms violations to battery and sexual assault."

An IDNR official told WGN that the person who killed the coyotes — who were so young they were likely snatched from their den — could face serious charges, including illegal possession of wildlife and misdemeanor or felony animal cruelty.

"This wasn't the act of a hunter hunting an adult coyote," Flint Creek's Dawn Keller told WGN, saying whoever did this brutally beat the seven puppies.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to contact the Department of Natural Resources tip line at 1-877-236-7529. Cook County Forest Preserve police and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is continuing to investigate this matter.

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• Coyote Pups Beaten, Drowned In Bucket At Barrington Forest Preserve

Photo via Flint Creek Rehabilitation Center Facebook page