2 'Aggressive' Coyotes Caught in North Side Park

CHICAGO, IL — A North Side alderman is urging residents in his ward to stop feeding and playing with coyotes after animal control recently removed two of the animals from an area park.

The coyotes in Winnemac Park, 5100 N. Leavitt St., were captured and relocated by Chicago Animal Care and Control after residents complained "they were being harassed, followed and menaced" by the animals, according to an alert sent out by Ald. Patrick O'Connor (40th Ward).

What was causing the coyotes' aggressive behavior? Residents feeding the animals and letting their dogs play with them off leash were factors that contributed to their threatening nature, O'Connor stated in the alert.

"Feeding wild animals is never a good idea because it alters the natural behavior of the animal and its subsequent interaction with others that they come in contact with," he said. "This can end in tragic circumstances when people react in a way that is counter to those who have fed or engaged in playful interaction with their pets and result in aggression."

The coyotes were relocated to Flint Creek Wildlife in Barrington, a solution that O'Connor stated was "not optimum," but animal control believed it was the best result "given the circumstances."

Late last month, O'Connor posted a reminder on his website about coyote mating season, which peaks in late February or early March.

photo via Patch archive

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