Being so close to the forest preserves means that your neighborhood will have more opportunity to come into contact with wildlife. Coyotes are common, and they help control rabbit and rodent populations. But it can be unnerving for people to see/hear coyotes, especially in their yards or neighborhoods. Unless the coyotes are causing property damage or are acting aggressively (i.e., charging people, attacking pets) there isn't anything that needs to be done. If they are causing problems, you can hire Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators (NWCO) to trap and remove the animals. Here are some tips for living near coyotes: -- Alert residents of the neighborhood and the local municipality (e.g., police, public safety officer) as soon as a problem develops with a coyote. -- Target the responsible coyote(s) when a pattern of "undesirable” behavior develops. Usually it will be easier to change human and domestic animal use of an area than to capture a coyote. -- Do not feed coyotes. -- Property owners should limit the availability of unintentional food sources such as bird food, pet food, ripe fruit, and trash. -- Comply with local ordinances that require oversight/restraint of pets. Do not leave small pets unattended when they are outside. Consider the use of fencing or kennel runs to protect small pets. -- Recognize that coyotes are a permanent fixture in Illinois’ rural, suburban and urban areas. Seeing a coyote(s) cross a field, backyard, golf course, road, etc. does not necessarily constitute a problem or a dangerous situation for humans or domestic animals. -- Recognize that coyote population reduction (removing some or all of the coyotes in an area) is usually unrealistic and always temporary. Removal of coyotes also requires time, effort and funding. -- If removal of a coyote is deemed necessary, hire a NWCO with coyote removal experience who is licensed by the IDNR. Coyote removals approved by the IDNR usually involve the use of cage (live) traps or padded foot-hold traps. -- Safety procedures for dealing with coyotes are different than those for dealing with a strange dog. If a coyote approaches you, do not run. Yell, stand up straight and wave your arms (the goal is to make yourself appear larger), or throw something at the coyote to scare it away.