Coyotes in Schaumburg

Today, you are just as likely to see a coyote in Schaumburg as you are in Arizona. Over the past several years, coyote sightings have become more prevalent within the village and surrounding communities. Although you may be shocked to see a coyote running through the village, it is not unusual. Due to the rapid loss of habitat by development, many coyotes have found themselves forced to cohabit with humans.

Fall is Coyote Dispersal Season

Fall marks a key point in the coyote life cycle: dispersal season. During dispersal season, young coyotes leave their packs to strike out on their own, resulting in more coyote sightings at this time of year.

Much like human teenagers, as young coyotes start to mature, their behavior becomes more assertive and family squabbles often ensue. Some may be able to remain with the pack as the betas to their alpha parents, but most are encouraged to leave and may even be driven out of their pack.

While coyotes can disperse at any time, the pups tend to leave their packs during the fall for a reason. The parents are preparing for breeding season_{­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­}—which occurs in late winter and early spring—and the alphas want to nudge potential challengers out of the pack. With less members in the pack, there is less competition for dwindling food supplies and mates.

You might also notice some different behaviors emerge during dispersal season. You may see them in groups, and they may even follow you while they explore. Coyotes are naturally curious, and these inexperienced youngsters are just trying to find their way in this world.

Coyotes tend to get a negative reputation, however they do offer unseen benefits to ecosystems. They provide rodent control, ensuring neighborhoods don’t have an excess of rabbits, mice, and rats. Additionally, they keep the goose, vole, and deer populations in check. Coyotes play an important role in keeping ecosystems healthy.

At this time of heightened coyote activity—or anytime, for that matter—pet safety is a major concern. Please keep your dogs on a leash, your cats indoors and never encourage urban coyote visits by providing food attractants. As always, be sure to remove or secure all trash, compost, pet food, and other edible items to keep coyotes away.

About Coyotes

Where do they live?

Coyotes are typically found in brushy areas, wooded edges, and open grasses—they are not found in heavily wooded areas, as many people believe. They live in burrows, but can also be seen occasionally walking down a village street. Coyotes like to travel along trails, paths, and waterways. They are most active at night, but are often seen during the day, especially in the summer when their pups are more active. Coyotes sometimes hunt in family units but are often alone or in male/female pairs. They do not form “packs” like their wolf cousins.

What Do They Eat?

The diet of coyotes consists of mostly small mammals including mice, rabbits, and moles, but they will also eat fruits and vegetables, especially in the fall. Coyotes rarely kill prey larger than themselves.

What Do They Look Like?

• Sometimes mistaken for a German Shepherd or a Husky
• Approximately 24 inches tall and weigh between 20 and 50 pounds
• Yellowish gray with a whitish throat and belly
• Long, coarse fur
• Dark band down their back
• Bushy, blacked tipped tail
• Runs with tail downward and may attain speeds of 40 mph

Coyote Safety Information

Do Coyotes Attack Humans?

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources states that attacks on humans extremely rare, with only 16 documented cases in all of North America in the last 30 or so years. The majority of these cases occurred when people tried to hand-feed the animals.

There has not been a documented case of a coyote attacking a domestic pet which is being walked on a leash by its owner. Coyotes have a natural fear of humans and will be less likely to approach a pet which is secured to a leash with the owner present. Residents need to keep their dogs on leashes, supervise them when they are outdoors after dusk and keep their cats indoors.

How to Protect Children and Pets from Coyotes?

• Residents with small pets (less than 20 pounds) should supervise them while outdoors as you would a small child.
• ALWAYS use a leash when walking your dog on public property, per village ordinance. Retractable leashes are not recommended as they tend to jam and can make it difficult for you to reel in your pet from a predator.
  • Village of Schaumburg ordinances states leashes cannot be longer than 6 ft. in length (VOS 92.30Q).
• Do not leave food out for coyotes or other wildlife. Feeding wild animals creates a potentially dangerous situation. Wild animals are smart and able to recognize if people are the source of their food.
  • With contact, coyotes and other wild animals will become less fearful of humans and will tend to approach more often, potentially becoming a hazard for children and pets.
• Parents should educate their children on how to identify and stay away from coyotes and other wildlife.
• If possible, keep your garbage cans in the garage.
• Check the yard for any type of wild animal before going outside with your pet after dusk. Dogs should never be let off the leash when there is a presence of coyote in the area. If you know there are coyote in the area, remain in the yard with your dog. Be aware coyotes can jump fences up to approximately 5-6 feet.
• Turn lights on and make some noise in order to scare off any possible wild animal that may be in the immediate area when going outside.

Following these simple precautions will reduce the risk of a coyote or other wild animal to prey on your pets.

Additional Coyote Information

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, trying to reduce or control coyote populations does not work. Holes created by an animal’s death or removal are almost always filled within three to four weeks, thus, attempts to keep coyotes out of an area must be intense and unrelenting. Coyote reduction has not worked in about 250 years and is not likely to work now or in the future. The Village of Schaumburg does not participate in trapping of coyote or other wildlife in and around the village.

Coyote Facts

• 80 percent of a coyote’s diet is comprised of mice and other rodents. They are nature’s version of rodent control. They are omnivores, eating watermelons, insects, apples, dog food from back porches, and fish.
• Coyotes are not endangered.
• Killing a coyote may actually increase the population the following year.
• A coyote can have a personal range of 2,000 to 10,000 acres.
• Coyotes are timid animals with a natural fear of humans. They are curious animals and may watch you from a distance. Usually they will run from you long before you see them.
• Coyotes are monogamous and mate for life.