Palatine Township Coyote Seminar Educates Residents

Palatine Township's coyote seminar drew nearly 50 residents Friday. The residents came away informed about the growing coyote population but still having questions about removal of the animals.

"It was very informative," said Palatine resident Jeff June, whose reporting of the at the last Township meeting helped lead to the seminar.

"The government really won't do anything until something happens. But they did do a good job educating the people," he said.

Peter Suneson of the Crabtree Nature Preserve addressed residents for nearly an hour on the history of coyotes and what can be done to help residents peacefully co-exist.

"I am excited to share our knowledge of coyotes with the community," said Suneson, who has been a naturalist for the Cook County Forest Preserves for three years.

"We get a lot of calls on coyotes. We generally refer those calls to townships. We are involved in the management of coyotes like tracking. We don't do professional relocation of them," he said.

Suneson detailed a study of urban coyotes in the Chicago area. In that study, it showed that coyote population has increased substantially in recent years.

"People are surprised by the number that are around them," Suneson said.

Suneson pointed out that it is "nuisance coyotes" who are causing most of the issues with area residents.

"These are the coyotes that are acting strange or are not easily scared off," Suneson said. "Those are the ones that should be watched carefully."

Area resident Darrell Muehler was concerned about the recent .

"I would think they would have to be pretty hungry to go after dogs and cats," Muehler said. "I haven't seen many rabbits or chipmunks, so hopefully they won't go after dogs."

Suneson said that there a few steps residents can take to keep coyotes from their property. That included cleaning up spills from bird feeders which attract squirrels and rodents, adding fencing and lighting, and not letting pets roam free.

"As a dog owner, I would hope people wouldn't put their pets at risk," Suneson said.

Suneson also said there never has been a reported coyote attack on a human in Cook County and only 15 such attacks have been reported nationwide from 1995 to 2007.

"They are just as afraid of you as you are of them," Suneson. "If you do see one, make yourself big and make lots of noise."

Resident Anita Cienniwa who saw coyotes on the outskirts of the area said that she never had a bad experience with them.  

"I lived in the Hoffman Estates-Elgin area right by the forest preserves," Cienniwa said. "And they never came near the urban area."