Wheaton considering ban on feeding wild animals

After conducting a controversial coyote removal program in March, Wheaton officials are focusing on what they believe contributed to the problem: Residents feeding wild animals.

Wheaton City Council members in two weeks are scheduled to vote on an amendment to an existing local law that prohibits the feeding of feral cats and dogs. It would extend the feeding ban to include raccoons, skunks, opossums and coyotes.

The proposed revision comes after Wheaton hired a professional trapper in response to reports of aggressive coyote behavior and fears some of the animals were sick. Five coyotes were captured and killed during the week of March 8 in an area near the south-side neighborhood where a small dog was attacked on Jan. 27 in its owner's backyard.

When the trapping program ended March 30, city officials said three of the captured coyotes had "cooked vegetables, dog food, cat food or bread in their digestive systems." Officials said they don't believe the coyotes got that food by rummaging through trash.

"The frustration of the whole coyote discussion is that it turns out people are feeding them," Councilman Phil Suess said. "I thought we were past that."

Even though the city has long tried to educate residents about the hazards of feeding coyotes or other wild animals, the awareness campaign alone hasn't been enough.

City Manager Don Rose said it appears "a good number of people" living in both the incorporated and unincorporated areas are putting food out for wild animals.

Because coyotes are attracted to areas where food is readily available, residents who feed them are encouraging their habitation in residential neighborhoods, officials said.

"Once they find these food sources - and if they are continual food sources - the coyotes will become (accustomed) to that area and won't move too far away from it," Rose said.

If the proposed amendment is approved, any Wheaton residents convicted of violating the feeding law could be fined $100 to $950 per occurrence, officials said.

In the meantime, officials said the number of complaints about coyotes has diminished since the trapping was halted. Still, they are encouraging residents to keep an eye on small pets, cover garbage cans and store pet food indoors.