The sighting of coyotes in Elmhurst has been brought to the attention of the City of Elmhurst and the Elmhurst Police Department.

Coyotes have been spotted in many neighborhoods and are part of the urban wildlife that inhabits North America. There are several steps that residents who encounter coyotes should take. If a coyote is sighted and appears aggressive or lingers in the area, residents should contact 9-1-1 and alert neighbors.

Elmhurst Police Chief, Michael Ruth states, “If the animal is injured or aggressive, we would attempt to take action. If there is just a sighting, we would monitor the situation as coyotes generally do not like to get too close to people.”
Intentional and unintentional food sources can be a key factor in reducing close encounter with coyotes. The following actions can be taken to minimize encounters with coyotes and to protect domestic pets.

• If possible, keep garbage cans inside• Keep barbeque grills clean
• Do not let pets run loose or be unattended• Keep pet food and water dishes inside
• Do not feed a coyote• Do not run from a coyote
• Repellents or fencing may help• Report aggressive, fearless coyotes immediately
• Do not create conflict where it does not exist

If you see a coyote in your neighborhood that appears aggressive or lingers, please call 9-1-1. Please also visit www.coyotecoexistence.com for more information.