Urban Coyotes of Chicago

[summer_jackel]

I love coyotes and was pleased when some of my friends shared this charming link about a family that is thriving in Chicago. Cute!

http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2010/12/08/131876027/60-wild-coyotes-patrol-chicago-and-occasionally-stop-at-convenience-stores

Comments

[wastedmouthfull.livejournal.com]

I love Coyotes as well, however this last summer there were a lot of them, and the got pretty close to the horses, we have an old man who is deaf and blind, and if down would have an issue getting up to defend himself.
Also kind of scary walking down to barn in the dark after hearing a pack go by.
To solve the problem I lock rodey in the barn, leave the barn light on, and carry a big stick.
I dont think they will go after me, but in a pack who knows.

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Coyotes are actually very shy and are unlikely to approach or attack a person or a horse, even a down and sick horse, unless the animal is rabid. Since coyotes survive on small rodents, rabbits, insects and carrion they would, with their small jaws, need quite a lot of time to even open the carcass of something as big as a horse. They have been known to take cats and small dogs; however it's also true that very small dogs have been known to drive off coyotes.

Unlike wolves, coyotes don't tend to hunt in packs; family units (usually a pair and that year's litter) will travel and den together, but because of the size of prey they take, they tend to disperse to hunt and drift apart as adults. A fascinating exception is some of the coyotes who live (I believe) near Maine, who are larger and hunt deer in packs because they are actually coywolves. The last wolves in that area interbred with them before they were eradicated entirely.

So your coyote population probably poses no threat, but your dog will definitely keep them out of the barn!