Wheaton looking at specifics of coyote culling program
While pursuing plans to cull their coyote population, Wheaton officials are dealing with the specifics of what must be done to capture and kill the animals.
Officials said Wheaton's gun laws may need to be revised to allow the trapper the city eventually hires to shoot coyotes.
And several residents this week raised concerns about the foothold traps commonly used to capture coyotes. They said they want special precautions taken to ensure non-targeted animals, domestic pets and children don't unwittingly stumble upon the traps.
Mayor Michael Gresk said a Wednesday meeting with a licensed trapper was one of several steps officials are taking before the citywide culling program begins.
"There is a general consensus that some action has to be taken," said Gresk, referring to a Feb. 8 decision by the city council. "It's just a question now of details."
Until last week, Wheaton relied solely on a public awareness campaign to educate residents on how to coexist with coyotes. But despite those efforts, officials say, the coyote problem has reached "a nuisance level" in the city.
Councilman John Prendiville, who voted against hiring a trapper, said he still thinks education - not culling - is the way to address Wheaton's coyote situation.
"This (culling) policy, science tells us, does not work," he said. "So we're reacting to fear with a policy that flies in the face of the facts."
In the meantime, Prendiville said he will strongly oppose any proposal to allow the city's trapper to use guns to kill captured coyotes in the town.
Professional coyote trapper Rob Erickson, who recently was hired by Glen Ellyn, said trappers can use dart guns or lethal injections to euthanize coyotes.
He personally prefers using a shotgun because it allows him to shoot coyotes that haven't yet been trapped.
The weapon is especially helpful if he spots a roaming coyote that is visibly ill. Experts agree sick or diseased coyotes are likely to attack small pets because they aren't healthy enough to hunt normal prey.
Of the five coyotes he removed from Glen Ellyn, Erickson said two had mange, a skin disease caused by parasitic mites.
Still, Prendiville said he doesn't believe guns should be used by trappers in Wheaton.
"So people who talk about their kids being afraid are going to like having an animal shot just outside their yard?" he said. "And if there's a coyote in a trap that's crying and trying to get out, that might traumatize kids just as much as seeing a coyote around."
When it comes to capturing coyotes, state officials say, trappers are required to use padded foothold traps, which have a rubber lining on the jaws to minimize injuries to the animals. Snare traps are allowed only if a trapper gets a special permit from the state.
"The types of traps that they (licensed trappers) use meet international standards for animal welfare," said Bob Bluett, a wildlife biologist with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. "The traps aren't designed to injure. They are designed to restrain the animal."
Bluett said he could only think of one time a dog was captured by a foothold trap. In that case, the dog wasn't hurt because the trapper had a camera focused on the trap and knew immediately that the dog was caught.
When asked about the possibility of children stepping on traps, Bluett said the devices are so small the risk to children is slim. He stressed trappers thoroughly scout areas to avoid potential conflicts with people or pets.
Erickson said his goal is to do a job without being noticed.
"They will never hear me or see me," he said. "I'm a ghost."