Wheaton officials halt coyote trapping program

Wheaton officials have ended their controversial coyote removal program roughly three weeks after hiring a trapper to capture and kill the animals.

Five coyotes were killed the week of March 8 before the city temporarily suspended trapping to evaluate the need to continue the program. Officials said Tuesday that the culling began in response to reports of aggressive coyote behavior and fears that some of the animals were sick.

"Although the city had urged its residents to embrace and utilize coyote deterrent techniques for many years, the use of the techniques did not seem to be deterring the nuisance activities of the coyotes," officials said in a news release.

The coyotes were captured in an area near the south-side neighborhood where a small dog was attacked on Jan. 27 in its owner's backyard.

Officials said they decided to permanently halt the trapping because the number of complaints has diminished.

"I realize that many people do not agree with any form of trapping," Mayor Michael Gresk said. "I think a limited amount of trapping in a focused area was warranted."

DeKalb-based On Target ADC received $4,750 to perform an assessment of the city's coyote population and remove the five animals, which all had various stages of mange, ranging from slight to severe, officials said.

Gresk said Wheaton pursued "a measured response to a situation where citizens felt the city needed to step in and do something." He said the city's focus now will be to continue its public awareness campaign to educate residents about how to behave around coyotes.

One piece of advice that will be stressed is the recommendation that residents not feed coyotes or other wild animals.

City officials say it was determined that three of the captured coyotes had "cooked vegetables, dog food, cat food or bread in their digestive systems."

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

"I am very glad that the killing of the coyotes has ended," said Councilman John Prendiville, who voted against hiring the trapper. "But I would remind people who think they're helping wild animals by putting food out that, as we've seen, it can result in their (the coyotes') deaths."