Comments on: Coyotes: They’re Just Like Us

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 05:00:36 +0000

The earlier respondents are right on the money; the animal control guy handled the thing very well, and the coyote will be no worse for the encounter. You’ve got to remember that sick (rabid?) animals behave in strange ways, and a coyote walking into a restaurant is definitely a strange behavior.

And besides, coyotes smell really bad. I’d want to keep my distance too.

By: Jason!

Jason! — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 20:07:20 +0000

Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke… “So a coyote walks into a sandwich bar…”

He looks pretty mad in that picture though. I guess when you’re a hungry coyote, you want more than a Sobe Lean.

By: jb

jb — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 18:21:58 +0000

I think what is more important is how the coyote got there and why. Isn’t it strange that we are hearing more and more reports about coyotes venturing into human areas? I read yesterday about a young boy being attacked in NJ. Is there something to that or is it that people have just started reporting it?
Whatever the case maybe, I don’t think there is anything wrong with having compassion for the animal.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 15:43:50 +0000

Coyotes are wonderfully adaptable, but they don’t make good neighbors. They often transmit rabies and mange, and have a tendency to kill and eat young livestock, dogs, cats and fox as well as other smaller targets of opportunity.

As with many of the animals that have been romanticized and anthropomorphosed over the years, they are much cuddlier on the silver screen and Disney TV.

By: Len

Len — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 14:07:57 +0000

Working for a state wildlife agency I hear about and see these kinda of urban wildlife conflicts, especially this time of year when animals are starting to become sick.
That Animal Control Officer did an excellent job in safely removing the coyote. The catch-pole he used is designed to minimise injury to the animal while giving the handler enough distance and control. Did you expect them to lead it out on a leash? It is a wild animal and (surprisingly?!) will act like one when confronted.
It could have been much worse.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 13:05:53 +0000

I have to agree. When I clicked on the video looking for “brutal treatment” I was certainly expecting something harsher than that. Also, while I feel bad for the little guy, it’s not as if this was some outlying urban sprawl encroaching on his territory. This is downtown Chicago, right?

By: dman

dman — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 13:02:17 +0000

Agreed. This is not someone’s pet Collie, this is a wild animal that will defend itself when backed into a corner.

By: mri

mri — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 11:58:23 +0000

Aimee, I totally agree. The coyotoe was not going to be “cuddled” out the door. Besides which, the people removing it had to be concerned with possible diseases he had, and needed to get him out the door, STAT.

By: Aimee

Aimee — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 04:01:05 +0000

I have to say that I don’t think this coyote was brutally removed. It was obviously resisting, but I’ve watched those animal cops show on the animal planet and that’s how they usually handle animals. It looked a lot worse that it really was for the animal.