A dog was attacked by a coyote in the 5300 block of Meadow Lane in Downers Grove on Oct. 15, police said.
A man was standing in his front yard around 6:30 a.m. when he heard his Havanese dog whimper, police said. When the man looked to see what had happened, he saw a coyote running northbound from the area with the dog in its jaws.
The dog was 12 years old, weighed 11 pounds and was unleashed, police said.
Downers Grove police notified the DuPage County Department of Natural Resources of the incident.
Last month, Patch published an interactive map with nearly two dozen coyote sightings reported by readers in Downers Grove. The map has since been updated with more sightings, including the attack in the Oct. 15 police reports (represented by a red marker).
What to Do if You Spot a Coyote
Coyotes typically come out at night. If you see a coyote during the day, that's indication the animal may be bolder and therefore more likely to attack. If you ever find yourself in this situation, the study recommends you yell, wave your arms and try to throw something at the coyote. Never run away.
Dan Thompson, ecologist at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County said residents along rivers and the Prairie Path are at a slightly higher risk of seeing coyotes as they help wildlife travel.
However, he said, "coyotes are everywhere."
The wild animals are putting down roots in urban environments because humans have given them an "upper hand," Thompson said. "(We've) mand them less fearful of contact with humans... We need to make sure we make them feel uncomfortable if they're around."
While coyotes have been known to attack pets, the Cook County Coyote Project says coyotes do not frequently attack dogs, and when they do, they tend to be smaller dogs. Cats, on the other hand, may represent more alluring targets. Don't lose too much sleep over it, though. The vast majority of a coyote's diet is made up of mice and rats.
Patch asked readers on its Facebook page to tell us where they've seen coyotes in Downers Grove. Readers reported sightings everywhere from local parks to their own backyards.
On Oct. 10, Downers Grove Police Sgt. Harry Andler said the department had only been notified of two sighings recently.
If a coyote is acting in a threatening manner in Downers Grove, call 9-1-1 or contact the Willowbrook Wildlife Center’s 24-hour automated phone line for advice at 630-942-6200.
If you've spotted a coyote recently, let us know in the comments and we'll add the location to our map.
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In This article
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Village of Downers Grove
801 Burlington Ave, Downers Grove, IL
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Dupage County Forest Preserve District
3s580 Naperville Rd, Wheaton, IL
Slawek
7:37 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
This morning at 5am I saw two coyotes in our back yard. Our house backs up to the southern end of McCollum Park (Valley View and Webster). They pulled our downspout out and were trying to get at whatever was inside of it. One was quite large and slightly smaller than a German Shepard.
Ernest Anderson
11:14 am on Saturday, November 3, 2012
I live in the North end of town and hate to disappoint everyone, but we are living in their territory! If you look at the historical data revolving around wildlife in DG, we all moved into it! Years ago the village grew quite rapidly and developers built on what were mostly farms and pastures. With having Maple Grove and Lyman Woods being one of the most densely wooded areas, we can’t evict nature form our neighborhoods. I agree I get a little nervous when I have a coyote and a fox walk past my lawn. On the other hand, I get the deer, owls (hooting at night), and the rabbits also. I moved away from the city to have this over 24 years ago. You just can’t evict or remove the animals you don’t like.
Sangala
8:26 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
Last night my dog chased two from the back yard on curtiss off of belmont.
G
3:28 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
Just take those little dogs and place them all over that map. Coyotes are just about everywhere in Dupage county. Imagine the dogs and cats that have been killed by them. Coyotes, Skunks and raccoons all over. What does our animal control really do? They won't help you with these problems.
JF
6:06 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
Yeah Gary, I had a Raccoon under my eaves and animal control said they could do nothing about it. Funny how my taxes pay for their salary and I get nothing for it.
Sam R
6:33 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
Get a real dog and that will take care of your critter problems. My German Shepard seems to keep things in check.
dg worker
7:25 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
its illegal to relocate most wild animals. I work overnight, I see them every other night, any where around town.
JF
8:24 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
@ dg worker: So me ripping my gutter off and using a canoe paddle to move the babies to a cozy brushpile was illegal? They were eating the inside of my house, traps weren't working. Should I poison them? Shoot them? It's not like they're endangered or anything. The better way WOULD be to relocate them. The law needs to be changed when they are in your house and won't leave. Next time it's a headshot with my 1200 fps pellet gun. It wasn't cheap fixing their damage.
Jake Wennerstrom
2:25 pm on Saturday, November 3, 2012
I must agree its a shame its illegal to relocate animals. Trapping services charge an arm and a leg to catch and remove animals so i went and bought traps and now do it myself, i built a rack which goes into my hitch in my truck so when i catch skunks or coons i bring them to maple grove and release them into the woods where they have more freedom. I know they will make there way back to someones house, but thats just becuase of the busy place we live. I'm willing to rise getting a ticket. If someone really wants to write me a ticket or fine me for helping an animal so be it.
Donna LaMontagna
3:01 pm on Sunday, November 4, 2012
please do not include my entire name
DG Guy
8:39 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
You control that rather than the Patch people. Sign into Patch, click on your name at the top right of the page. Choose Profile. Takes you to a different page. Choose Edit Profile from the lniks on the left. Change your name to something less specific.
DG Guy
8:39 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
Saw a small coyote heading East across Lyman near Blanchard Sunday night around 8:45 PM.
Frank Rizzo
11:08 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
3 a.m. spotted one at Warren and Prospect.
Ray
10:26 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
Why does the article not include what happened to the dog? Did the coyote drop it upon being chased, did it run off with the dog, was the dog killed, or was it injured and treated?
Angela
8:08 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Ray, The coyote did not return the dog, so I guess he ate it..
Carol Gockman
6:23 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Yesterday, November 5th at 5am, I heard my 1yr old Coton growling and looked to see a coyote within 10 feet of him. This was near the 3900 block of Saratoga. We were lucky.
DHD
11:02 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
I have been doing my part to manage coyotes.
I shot one with a deer slug and buried it in lyman woods. I poisoned another one and dumped the body in the marsh area at 59th and Main park. Another I strangled with my bare hands and buried near the baseball fields at South high school. I nailed one last week with my .45 and dumped the body in barth pond.
Jonathan Knight
12:33 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
There have been several sightings the week of November 5-9 around 55th, Main and Carpenter in Downers Grove. Just one so far.
B. O'Connell
2:17 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012
Sighting of one coyote November 17th, 6:40am, front yard of 4204 Downers Drive
Tom
11:02 am on Thursday, November 22, 2012
I'm not happy with the fact that coyote sightings are becoming more frequent, including the day time. I chased a large one (german shepared size) out of my backyard this morning at around 8:30 am. DG Animal Control needs to do something about this!
B
9:15 pm on Friday, November 23, 2012
Saw a coyote walking in the 4500 block of Wilson Ave at 10:00 am Friday the 23rd.
Bill H
9:30 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Dunham and Thornwood on November 14th (my dog chased it out of my front yard) and (probably) between Dunham and Middaugh just south of 55th St overnight last night (my dog found fresh killed rabbit this morning along our fence line)
Laurie S.
6:02 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
61st and Lee Ave Dec. 4th We saw a very large coyote go the vacant lot/swamp on the corner.
John Keefe
7:09 am on Sunday, February 24, 2013
There have been 3 sightings lately in the 4400 block of Elm Street, just north of Grant Street. There have been up to 3 coyotes seen at a time. None in the day time so far, but they have been pretty comfortable being close to our houses and back porches. We have a lot of big dogs in the neighborhood and that does not seem to bother them in the least. Particularly since the dogs are in in the evening.