Wheaton adopts new approach to coyotes

Wheaton will focus on raising public awareness and strictly enforcing a feeding ban to deal with continuing concerns over coyotes in the community.

The city council Monday unanimously adopted a coyote policy that comes months after officials ended a trapping program that triggered a firestorm of criticism about killing the animals.

“There is a protocol here now,” Mayor Michael Gresk said. “I think it's a good document. It does give us a step-by-step procedure response to what happens.”

Several residents praised the approach, including some who opposed Wheaton's decision earlier this year to hire a professional trapper in response to reports of aggressive coyote behavior.

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 Jan. 27 in its owner's backyard.

When the trapping program ended March 30, officials said all the captured animals had various stages of mange.

It also was revealed that residents might have fed three of the captured coyotes. So the council in May extended a ban on feeding feral cats and dogs to include raccoons, skunks, opossums and coyotes.

“The care and feeding of coyotes is simply not appropriate,” Gresk said.

Officials said one goal of the new policy is to stop coyotes from becoming too comfortable in Wheaton neighborhoods. That includes educating residents about the hazards of feeding coyotes and other wild animals.

“It's more of a people problem than an animal problem,” Councilman John Prendiville said. “People need to be educated so they conduct themselves in the proper manner.”

The new policy recommends the city hire a trapper to track coyotes to find anyone who might be feeding the animals. Any Wheaton residents convicted of violating the town's feeding law could be fined $100 to $950 per occurrence.

There also will be a campaign to educate the public that includes brochures, cable television programs, postcards and signs near parks.

Residents also will be taught to use “hazing” techniques when encountering coyotes. That includes shouting, chasing and throwing objects to drive the animals away. If a coyote becomes aggressive and starts taking pets from yards, the city could remove the animal.

“Hopefully, with this policy our residents will become more educated and we can avoid that (removing an animal) in most instances,” Prendiville said. “Unfortunately, there may be some where we do have to take that type of action. But I‘m hoping that's going to be a very, very last resort.”