Tails in the News

Coyotes in the City

by Lauren Lewis

The results of the first six years of a continuing study on the urban coyote population in Chicago show that more of the wild creatures may be living among us than was previously thought. Researchers estimate that there may be somewhere between several hundred and a couple thousand coyotes living in the Windy City. Stanley Gehrt, an assistant professor of environmental and natural resources at Ohio State University, has been leading the study.

According to Gehrt, the trend of the coyote populations, which he says may be similar in other Midwestern cities, seems to be either stable or increasing. “We have very high densities, with high survival and relatively high reproductive rates, all of which combine to suggest the population is doing well.”

But even with the high numbers, he says that for the most part, humans and coyotes get along just fine. “We were surprised to see how often coyotes and people are coexisting without conflict, usually because people have no idea coyotes are present,” Gehrt says. However, he adds that most cases of coyote attacks, which are low to begin with (there are one to three reported incidents across the nation annually), are preceded by people feeding coyotes. “Given the right situation, a problem animal can develop anywhere.”

While Gehrt explains that this phenomenon is not much of a threat where humans are concerned, it may be a good idea to take a few safety measures to protect your pets.

“Coyotes are more of a threat to pets than to people, especially free-ranging cats. Precautions could include not letting pets run free if coyotes are known to be in the area, and not leaving pet food outside overnight,” he says. “When walking dogs in metro parks, keeping them on a leash is important, especially in spring, when coyotes are raising young and are particularly territorial.”

There are some benefits to having metro-loving coyotes. “We know that rodent populations increase after coyotes are removed from an area,” Gehrt explains. “Also, coyotes are a major predator on deer fawns, which helps to slow the population growth of urban deer.” Finally, he adds, his team has discovered that the coyotes help control Canadian geese overpopulation problems by eating the eggs from their nests.

Gehrt hopes, “the research leads to a better understanding of the relationship between coyotes and people, and helps people and administrations find the appropriate decisions with regard to managing their resident coyote populations and their own particular situations.”

Support our canine troops

by Lauren Lewis

Canine military units serving abroad are getting a little taste of home thanks to the efforts of one Chicago couple. Michael and Cindy Kaplan came up with the idea of Bruno Packs (named for their German Shepherd Bruno) after being inspired by a news story on canine units. “We were really touched that these handlers would request items for their dogs [rather] than for themselves. That really made us want to support them,” Cindy says. These dog-centric care packages contain items requested by the soldiers that their service dogs may not have, including shampoo and conditioner, treats, and brushes. A complete list can be found at www.TheHouseHound.net. So far with the help of local organizations, family, friends, and members of the community, nearly 40 packages have been sent out. “Everyone wants to help—we have dog people, military buffs, all walks of life—people really feel for the soldiers and dogs abroad,” Cindy says. Additionally, the Kaplans have created Chicago Bruno Packs, or “Pughugs,” which are mini-care packages donated to local shelters in need of supplies and support. To help with either initiative, call the Kaplans at (312) 804-0575 or visit the website.