Coyote-Feeding Burr Ridge Woman Cited Again: Report

BURR RIDGE, IL — A woman whose neighbors accuse of her feeding coyotes has been charged again with spreading animal feed on her property. The 76-year-old who lives in the 7800 block of Forest Hill Road was given a $25 ticket Jan. 17.

According to a police report, an officer was called after a neighbor saw the woman dumping food on the ground in the back of her house. The officer reported seeing animal feed near the back patio.

Because of neighbors' reports, the woman is no stranger to police. In November, officers warned her about the ground-feeding of wildlife. On New Year's Eve, she received a citation for ground-feeding after an officer found feed on freshly fallen snow on her driveway, police said.

On social media, neighbors have expressed outrage over her actions.

"We would not be calling about a bird feeder," one woman wrote. "The woman has been feeding a pack of coyotes and it has made our neighborhood unsafe for our families."

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources said coyotes typically "do more good than harm where humans are concerned," although they occasionally kill livestock and domestic pets.

"Attacks on humans are extremely rare considering the range and abundance of coyotes," according to IDNR. "A study published in 2007 found 187 reliable reports of attacks on humans, most of which (157) occurred in California, Arizona and Nevada. Many of these incidents occurred where people were feeding coyotes intentionally, causing them to lose their fear of humans."