The sighting of coyotes in Elmhurst has been brought to the attention of the City of Elmhurst and the Elmhurst Police Department. In the Midwest, coyotes breed from January through March which increases the likelihood of seeing them, often in pairs, during the daytime.

There are several steps that residents that encounter coyotes should take. If a coyote is sighted, it is encouraged to contact the Elmhrust Police Department and alert neighbors. The police department’s response will be situational, depending on the nature of the call.

Elmhurst Police Chief Mike Ruth states, “If the animal is injured or aggressive, we would attempt to have the animal dispatched. 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
• Do not let pets run loose or be unattended
• Keep pet food and water dishes inside
• Do not feed the coyotes
• 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, please contact the Elmhurst Police Department at 630-530-3050. Please also visit www.coyotecoexistence.com for more information.